Nintendo Joins Forces with Samsung to Supercharge the Switch 2

2 June 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
6 min.
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Nintendo Joins Forces with Samsung to Supercharge the Switch 2

Summary:

Nintendo has reportedly enlisted Samsung to manufacture a custom processor for the forthcoming Switch 2. By leveraging Samsung’s 8-nanometer fabrication process, Nintendo expects to ship around 20 million units by March 2026—far surpassing early forecasts. The collaboration not only reinforces Nintendo’s bid to avoid the supply-chain woes that plagued many tech launches in recent years but also opens the door to a possible OLED refresh down the line. This overview explores the motivations behind the partnership, how the new chip could redefine portable gaming performance, and what an accelerated production schedule means for gamers, developers, and competitors alike.

Nintendo’s Strategic Move to Partner with Samsung

Nintendo’s decision to hand Samsung the keys to its next-generation processor signals a major shift in the company’s hardware strategy. In the past, Nintendo divided component orders among several suppliers to hedge against shortages. This time, the Kyoto-based firm opted for Samsung’s foundry expertise, betting that a single, high-volume manufacturer can deliver chips at the speed a modern console launch demands. The choice is also about geography: with many global supply chains still prone to bottlenecks, South Korea’s robust semiconductor infrastructure offers shorter lead times and a resilient logistics network. Nintendo’s internal projections, according to industry chatter, place first-year demand well above fifteen million units—a figure the company publicly described as “ambitious yet achievable.” To hit those numbers, Nintendo needs a partner that can scale production quickly without sacrificing quality, and Samsung’s track record in mobile SoCs and memory modules gives executives confidence they can meet launch day expectations.

Customized Chipsets: Powering the Next Generation

At the heart of every console lies its processor, and for the Switch 2 Nintendo reportedly commissioned a bespoke chip co-designed with Nvidia but built by Samsung. This processor blends an ARM-based CPU cluster with an Ampere-derived GPU, giving the handheld-hybrid enough muscle for modern rendering techniques such as DLSS upscaling and real-time ray tracing. While raw teraflops rarely tell the full story, early developer documentation hints at performance in the ballpark of the last console generation, all while drawing far less power. The silicon is etched on Samsung’s 8 nm node, a mature process that balances yield, cost, and thermals—crucial for a device that must run cool in handheld mode and sprint when docked.

Why Samsung’s 8 nm Node Matters

Samsung’s 8 nm line has already powered flagship smartphones, giving the foundry years of fine-tuning under its belt. For Nintendo, this maturity translates to stable yields and predictable supply schedules—two pillars of a smooth global rollout. Moreover, the node’s density allows for a tighter integration of CPU, GPU, and LPDDR5X memory controllers, trimming latency and improving battery life. A proven node also shortens validation cycles: engineers can focus on firmware optimization instead of chasing manufacturing quirks.

Balancing Performance and Efficiency

Portable devices live and die by battery life, so Nintendo’s engineers set aggressive efficiency targets. By pairing the 8 nm chip with power-gated cores and dynamic frequency scaling, the Switch 2 can downshift into a low-power state during lighter workloads—think retro titles or menus—while unleashing its full potential in demanding scenes. Samsung’s manufacturing process contributes to this balancing act with low-leakage transistors, ensuring the system sips rather than gulps power when you’re playing on the bus.

Projected Production Volumes and Timeline

Sources familiar with the manufacturing plan say Samsung aims to supply enough processors for Nintendo to assemble roughly 20 million consoles by the close of the fiscal year ending March 2026. To put that in perspective, the original Switch shipped just under three million units in its first month and thirteen million in its first full fiscal year. Scaling to twenty million so quickly requires a synchronized waltz of chip fabrication, PCB assembly, final console build, and worldwide distribution. Samsung will reportedly run multiple production lines in parallel and hold buffer stock of key materials—substrates, wafers, and memory—to avoid the bottlenecks that plagued consumer electronics during the pandemic. Nintendo, meanwhile, has lined up additional assembly capacity at Foxconn and other contract manufacturers to convert those chips into retail-ready hardware without delay.

Meeting Sky-High Demand: Logistics and Scale

Shipping twenty million consoles in under twelve months isn’t just a manufacturing challenge; it’s a logistical marathon. Nintendo’s supply-chain team has booked fleet capacity well in advance, opting for a mix of sea freight for base units and air cargo for accessories and high-priority regions. Regional hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia will stage inventory to smooth out launch-day spikes and ensure continuous restocking through the crucial holiday period. Retail partners are reportedly briefed on staggered allocations designed to throttle scalper activity—lessons learned from the Switch 1 and next-gen console launches of 2020. Gamers should still expect shortages, but Nintendo hopes the Samsung alliance will keep shelves fuller for longer.

Potential OLED Refresh: Lessons from the First Switch

Bloomberg’s report adds an intriguing wrinkle: Samsung is already lobbying for an OLED revision of the Switch 2. Veterans might recall that the first Switch received its OLED makeover four years after launch, but Samsung sees an opportunity to accelerate that timeline. With OLED yields improving and panel prices falling, a mid-cycle refresh could land sooner, offering richer contrast and improved battery life. Nintendo, however, is reportedly cautious—not wanting to cannibalize early sales or introduce a split user base. Expect any OLED model to arrive only after supply stabilizes and the LCD base model saturates the market.

Performance Expectations for Players

Hardware specs only matter if they translate into real-world gains. For players, the Samsung-built SoC promises smoother frame rates, faster load times, and crisper visuals in handheld and docked modes alike. Developers finally gain access to hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS, allowing them to balance fidelity and performance dynamically. Early tech demos show titles hitting 60 fps at 1080p in handheld mode and up to 4K when docked—an impressive leap over the original Switch’s maximum 720p handheld output.

Energy Efficiency and Battery Life Considerations

All that extra horsepower would be meaningless if the console couldn’t last on the go. Nintendo’s internal testing reportedly clocks battery life between six and nine hours depending on workload—a modest bump over the first Switch despite the jump in performance. This longevity stems from Samsung’s low-leakage transistors, larger battery cells, and smarter power-management firmware that throttles unused cores and dims the backlight proactively.

Implications for the Handheld-Console Hybrid Market

Nintendo’s hybrid design carved out a niche no rival has managed to dethrone. By doubling down on performance without compromising portability, the Switch 2 raises the bar for any competitor eyeing the same turf. Valve’s Steam Deck and ASUS’s ROG Ally proved there is demand for PC-grade handhelds, but both struggle with battery life and thermal noise. Nintendo’s tighter hardware-software integration—now supercharged by Samsung silicon—could widen that gap.

Competitive Landscape and Industry Response

Sony and Microsoft may stick to traditional console cycles, yet the runaway success of the first Switch forced them to explore cloud-based handheld experiences. If Nintendo uses Samsung’s scale to flood the market with Switch 2 units, third-party publishers will follow the install base, funneling exclusive content toward the hybrid. Meanwhile, chipmakers like TSMC and Intel Foundry Services will court Nintendo for future contracts, eager not to cede long-term business to Samsung.

What This Means for Players, Developers, and the Future

For players, the headline is simple: more consoles on store shelves and a stronger launch lineup powered by modern hardware. Developers gain a stable, well-documented platform with enough power to run cutting-edge engines, yet still portable enough to reach casual audiences. Nintendo gains a manufacturing partner capable of scaling with demand, reducing the risk of empty shelves and scalper markups. Looking ahead, the Samsung alliance could evolve into a long-term partnership spanning displays, memory, and future chip nodes—ensuring Nintendo’s hybrid legacy continues to thrive.

Conclusion

Nintendo’s collaboration with Samsung marks a pivotal moment in the Switch 2 journey. By entrusting one of the world’s leading chipmakers with its custom processor, Nintendo positions itself to deliver unprecedented performance, keep pace with demand, and even future-proof the platform for an eventual OLED refresh. If production targets hold, millions of players will enjoy an upgraded portable gaming experience sooner rather than later.

FAQs
  • Q: Why did Nintendo choose Samsung over TSMC?
    • A: Samsung’s 8 nm node offers mature yields and faster turnaround, giving Nintendo confidence it can meet aggressive production goals.
  • Q: Will the Switch 2 support 4K gaming?
    • A: When docked, the console can output 4K with DLSS upscaling, though native 4K rendering will depend on individual game optimizations.
  • Q: How soon could an OLED model arrive?
    • A: Industry chatter suggests Nintendo will wait until the base model supply stabilizes, so late 2027 or 2028 seems plausible.
  • Q: What battery life can players expect?
    • A: Real-world tests place runtime between six and nine hours, varying with game intensity and screen brightness.
  • Q: Does the Samsung chip improve backward compatibility?
    • A: Yes. Higher clock speeds and DLSS allow older Switch titles to run at higher resolutions and steadier frame rates without developer patches.
Sources
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