Nintendo Switch 2 Leaks Ramp Up as New Patent Suggests AI Image Upscaling Tech

2025 has kicked off with even more Nintendo Switch 2 leaks, although this time they’re accompanied by a fresh patent that suggests the console includes exciting new tech.

Let’s start with the patent, filed July 2023 but published for the first time just this week. As noted by Eurogamer, the patent describes AI image upscaling technology that would help keep video game download sizes small enough to fit on a physical game cartridge while offering up to 4K textures.

Now for the leak. Again, as noted by Eurogamer, we have a look at what appears to be the Switch 2’s internal components. It tallies with information suggested by previous image leaks that have helped give us a decent idea of what to expect from Nintendo’s next-gen console.

Here’s what we know for sure: Nintendo has confirmed that the yet-to-be-announced Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will feature Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo has also said it will announce the Switch 2 by the end of March 2025, which means the reveal is fast approaching. As for a release date, the console is not expected to launch during Nintendo’s current financial year, so it will arrive April 2025 at the earliest.

In September, unverified images — a mix of Computer-aided design (CAD) images and printed circuit board (PCB) photos — that were said to have originated from a Chinese website before making their way onto Reddit, depicted a device similar to the existing Switch console, but with a larger screen and magnetic Joy-Cons. There is a USB-C port on the top and bottom of the console, which you can see in the latest leaked images above.

Accompanying the images was an alleged specifications list that mentioned 12GB of RAM (the original Switch has 4GB), and 256GB of internal storage (the original Switch has 32GB). There’s a new “C” button on the right Joy-Con, too.

We even have developers outright saying they plan to release their upcoming games on the console, with others teasing a Switch 2 release for their games. When Switch 2 does eventually come out, Nintendo expects to have plenty of stock available, which in turn will hopefully combat scalping.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].