When the Nintendo Switch first launched in 2017, its modest portable hardware specs immediately raised questions about its long-term future, but the console is ultimately much more powerful than you might think.
If you thought the Nintendo Switch was just a console that could reach 1080p definition, well think again. After explaining why buying second-hand games was now very dangerous, YouTuber Taki Udon also demonstrated that it was possible to run games in 4K on the console.
The Switch has a 720p screen, and Nintendo limits the console to a definition of only 1080p when docked. However, the chip is actually capable of going much further. By overclocking the Switch’s chip and running the games through a modded Linux operating system, Taki was able tooutputting a crisp 4K 60fps signal from the 7 year old console. It is even possible to play titles up to 1080p at no less than 240 fps.
The Switch runs games in 4K
Whether it’s PC games like World of Warcraft and Fable 3 or console classics like Doom 3 and Ocarina of Time, the Switch ran them all surprisingly well in 4K. We’re not talking about simple 2D indie games or retro emulators here, but full-fledged 3D experiences running at a much higher definition than the Switch’s standard output.
Although some games had minor performance issues, the overall experience was generally smooth and playable in Taki’s testing. Morrowind, Minecraft Java Edition, and even the very demanding Breath of the Wild were all rendered in 4K, although the latter was clearly unplayable.
You will have to mod your Switch to achieve such performance
The key, of course, was to unlock the Switch’s hardware from its artificial limitations imposed by Nintendo. Out of the box, the Switch is limited to both CPU/GPU clock speeds and output definitions well below its technical capabilities. This is intended to preserve performance and battery life, but as Taki demonstrates, these guardrails can be removed without the console catching fire.
On a modded and overclocked Nintendo Switch under Linux, the possible definitions range from 4K at 60 fps up to 1080p at 240Hz. Although the highest settings required the high-end Switch OLED model, even the original Switch launched in 2017 was found to be capable of gaming in 4K at 30 frames per second when fully overclocked and rendering configured to prioritize graphics over frame rate.
Not limited to emulators and Linux ports, Taki even found a way to run real Nintendo Switch games in 4K through an Android emulation layer. Titles like Sonic Mania or Pokémon Sparkling Diamond, among others, all started in 4K.
Of course, the big caveat is that none of these Switch 4K features are available without extreme system modification and third-party workarounds. But what you have to remember is that the Switch’s chip was technically capable of running in 4K from the start, even if Nintendo chose to limit it. We’ll let you discover the video in full below if you want to see some of the Nintendo games running in 4K on the console, while waiting for them to arrive in 4K on the next Switch 2.