If you've been keeping tabs on all the rumours circulating around the Nintendosphere recently, you may remember a Bloomberg report from last month which suggested that the company has been asking third-party developers to ensure their future titles are 4K-ready.
The thought is that Nintendo might be planning to release an upgraded Switch console capable of displaying a gorgeous 4K resolution, and while we wouldn't blame you for thinking that the claim seems a little outlandish, that doesn't stop us from dreaming about what that could mean for Nintendo's games.
Take the upcoming Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, for example. YouTube user SnazzyAI has taken the official game reveal trailer, upscaled it to 4K, and then used machine learning-based video interpolation to emulate a 60hz refresh rate as opposed to the 30fps available in the original game on Switch. If you have a screen capable of 4K at your disposal, viewing the video above is an absolute treat on the eyeballs (make sure to select '4K' in the video's settings).
Visuals aren't everything, but we definitely wouldn't say no to seeing future Nintendo titles looking as sharp as that. Would you like a new Switch console to display 4K visuals, or are you happy enough as you are? Let us know in the comments.
Comments (83)
4k is trash and PlayStation and Microsoft marketing talk. Gameplay is all that matters. In fact I like bad frame rates and poor resolutions because I'm a real gamer it helps me be immersed in the gameplay.
@sixrings

120fps in 8k on Switch Pro or no deal.
This looks the exact same as the official trailer to me lol. I’m praying to god the rumors are false for a new model, because of if they make games like botw 2 exclusive, so hopefully not
Maybe because I’m watching on my phone (iPhone 11 Pro Max) I can’t tell a difference? Honestly looks the same to me.
Ooof, that's pretty.
Find me a 4k TV with S-Video inputs and I might go for it.
I don't care about 4K but man, 60fps would be absolutely amazing
4k, not so much. But HDR 1080p at a solid 60 would be killer. If the Switch Pro is real, i personally hope they prioritize framerate over resolution.
@sixrings 4k is a thrash ? Ok weirdo you got or attention now calm down and go to your cave.
My TVs are still old ass 720 plasma TVs. Lol. 30, 60 whatever. They all look the same to me. 😂😂😭😭
Man, I need to beat BotW before this comes out! I just don't want to beat it... I don't want it to end!!!!!
Why would NLife be speculating about 4k BotW2 unless... unless they knew it was coming?
Break off the attack!
@sixrings "I'm a real gamer"
"I like bad framerates and poor resolutions"
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
4K. Just makes things more expensive but does nothing.
@Slinkoy1 i suspect if the Switch Pro is real, it will be more in line with the PS4 Pro, where it simply enhances existing games opposed to having exclusive software that runs on it. Why split their killer userbase?
As long the game runs well in handheld mode, that's about all that matters to me.
tbh as long as the game is 1080p/60fps or at the very least has a lot of technical improvements from the previous game I'll be content. I'm more interested in the content since we already know the game will look good.
@sixrings No joke that I can make could be better then that joke.
also a game like botw with its cell-shading and water-colorish textures wouldn't really benefit a whole lot from a 4k res upgrade. Maybe the aliasing would be a bit better. But a solid 60 fps during battles when there's a ton going on with particles and enemies would be outstanding!!
I mean it's already a thing for the original, thanks to the Wii U version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyz5zG_txsA
I think I speak for many Nintendo fans when I say that I care far more about the gameplay.
@sixrings People don't understand your humor. I do.
420 FPS at 12k or no deal
@mr_eman Yeah, the textures look pretty empty so it feels like 4K actually does it a disservice.
4k would be nice, but not necessary. 1080p at 60fps is preferable than 4k and variable fps (even variable 30-60fps; it's just choppy!).
I've got a 4k TV and no 4k consoles (but 4k-compatible streaming services). Nintendo is my console. It's not about 4k, but if we had 4k, that would be cool with me (as long as frame rate is stabilized first and foremost).
@Lordplops i hate to disappoint you, but that won't be happening anytime soon.
Is there supposed to be a notable difference?
@graysoncharles My phone has a 4K display & 60 hz refresh rate on the screen. Maybe 6.5 inch screen is too small to notice the difference? Might need to watch the trailer again on my TV.
What does the resolution and the framerate matter, if most AAA-games basically look and play the same. 🤷
"Here's How Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 Could Look Running On A 4K Console"
Port it to Series X, Nintendo!
@sixrings I can't agree more. I am not hoping for a 4K switch but a return to true gaming: A new generation of Gameboy with a smaller screen, 4 shades of the ugliest green, half the computing power and a Mario without a moustache. Of course it would require 16 AA batteries to enjoy 40 minutes of intense gaming with the screen dimming progressively as you hear the "sluuuuurp" of batteries being drained.
Oh my .... idc about graphics, as long as the game is good. guess why switch is my main system, even when i own also a xbox one x
reminds me on the stupid "bit" crap back in the days ... technically dreamcast was a 64bit console, because 2*64bit processors, playstation 2 was the first "real" 128bit console, but still, dreamcast was way better in any way (games, graphics — textures)
companys always try to sell their products with stupid promises, like the "last" gen should be 1080p 60 - BUT it barely can run 1080p and if so, only at 25~30 fps. marketing at its best.
like microsoft with their bullcrap 8k - talk with series x. yeah maybe series X even can handle 8k, but if so - i bet only on 2D indie games ;P 3D games can barely run in 4k even on the series X.... never trust a company
@graysoncharles You are correct. Apparently it had a 2.7k screen (hahah...that’s a thing?)
@sixrings "bad frame rates and poor resolutions because I'm a real gamer it helps me be immersed in the gameplay"
how on earth bad frame rates and poor resolutions help you be immersed in the gameplay?
it is just a poor excuse for a poor performance of the Switch
As someone playing Switch and PS4 (amateur), I'm already happy when anything manages to run at FHD plus my TV is now about 10 yrs old, wasn't really that expensive back then and still everything looks absolutely fine on it. I'm quite happy for every year I don't yet have to buy a new one. And Nintendo of course won't waste ressources on 4K resolution; they will rather deliver a better overall performance and more geometry with 1080p
Don't do that to me, I thought the title said here's a gameplay trailer of botw2 and I nearly had a heart attack.
@Spartan48 it does do something, it's just so poorly marketed it has no meaning anymore.
Just checked my YT settings - says it was running at Auto 480p, and since my screen is 1440x900 I'm not expecting it to look very different than any previous trailer I've seen.
And I understand all of this, but I feel like some people commenting on here just don't get it. Not at all.
Nintendo does such a good job designing their games around their limited hardware. More than breath of the wild 2, 3rd party games have the most to gain from a potential Switch pro. Competitive shooters like Fortnite, and Overwatch, could greatly benefit from a frame rate boost, and less pop-in. Love Fortnite or hate it, the game has serious sway.
Uh... I just flipped back and forth between the two and couldn't see any difference. Granted, I could only run it on a 1440p screen but
I honestly couldn’t care less about 4K or frame rate. When I buy a game, I do it for the gameplay, not how pretty the screenshots look.
Its hard to appreciate things like this when you don't own a 4K television to watch it on. That's not to say experiments like this shouldn't be done. Just I can understand why some are indifferent to it or don't care. To me, this looks like the same trailer we've already seen. Though I'm sure if I did see it on a 4k display, I'd obviously feel otherwise.
Realistic Lighting, is more important than resolution, or framerate IMO. I wish the next generation would just stick with 1080, or even 1440 and go for amazing ray tracing, rather than worry about getting to 4k and the lighting being the same because all the CPU is being wasted on that.
Movies don't look better in higher resolutions and higher frame rates (anyone seen the Hobbit!?) it's all about the lighting. Can't wait until developers really find the sweet spot with the ray tracing hardware we now all have access to.
Nintendo Life: Here's how BotW 2 could look in 4K
YouTube: Plays proof of concept video in 240p by default.
Real gamers play games without graphics - they distract from the experience.
(It does look lovely, but it always did)
@Rpg-lover awww man, you're busting my balls man, stop busting my balls.
@ToadBrigade Agreed, but framerate does have a serious impact on gameplay with some types of games, so framerate is not entirely just window dressing.
Maybe I shouldn't be looking at this on my S10+. Looks like 1080p to me🤷🏾♂️
It looks exactly the same as it does on a Switch or Wii U. How about an update on what the game is about and when it will be released?
@superderper I'm afraid of that too. Nintendo has been in love with asymmetric gameplay since the Gameboy Advance/GameCube days. If they go this way, maybe 3rd time will be the charm.
Looked beautiful. I watched it on a 1080p screen, but the fluidity of it was great. I really hope they can boost it from 30fps to 60fps.
Call me stupid, but I don't see a difference.
There's something about 60 FPS that doesn't feel necessary. Like 24 FPS in films and TV, 30 FPS seems to deliver a story-telling experience that 60 FPS can't, because 60 would make it seem more realistic and it would take away the vibes of a cartoony story, given BotW 2 was made in the same cel-shaded art style as BotW.
I really don't care, BOTW looks gorgeous as is and I just want more of the same. If they do release a pro I might consider it, but only for the ported games I otherwise couldn't play. If third party devs get behind the pro, I'm in.
I don't see what's wrong with 1440p we really don't need 4k. Even PS4Pro can't do 1440p 60 fps easily. What we need is a better screen on the console.
I think it far more likely Nintendo tries to reinvent the wheel than to simply develop a more powerful 4K capable system. I doubt they even try and produce a system that would do the BOTW world justice e.g. substantially better lighting, particle effects, water, and draw distance.
1080p 144hz be better
@Collette Series S is designed for 1440p and 1080p I thought.
It's weird. If a movie is more then 24 frames I think it looks like homevideo trash (The Hobbit in 40 frames for example). But when it comes to games I really don't feel that much difference between 30 and 60.
@sixrings I hope your joking. Bad resolution I can... put up with, but a bad framerate absolutely destroys the gameplay you care so much about.
@Goat_FromBOTW you must have hated BOTW then
@gcunit It's a trap!!
Can't leave a Calamari hangin', ya'll.
4K is vastly over rated. It's only very slightly nicer than 1080p and even then only with real high end quality source material.
We've been seeing diminishing returns with each "upgrade" for a while.
Even running a 4K TV next to a 1080p TV with video designed to show off how good 4K is, it's only slightly nicer.
On a Switch pro I'd much prefer they focus on having everything at 1080p with nothing lower than 30FPS, ideally 60FPS. And that in portable mode, with a nicer, bezelless screen. Brighter too. And wireless headphone support.
@HobbitGamer Thank you!
4K is great for when something is far away, but most games take advantage of the wonderful technology to make text appear as small as possible! Squinting to read is probably my favorite interactive gaming mechanic!
Metroid Prime 4 and Bayonetta 3 is actualy the games to benefit for a 4K console, Nintendo Life when we got a trailer to show how Bayonetta 3 e Metroid Prime 4, show how they gonna look in 4K.
@Heavyarms55 1440p at 144fps is where it’s at.
@Shworange plasma is great for retro consoles. Keep it.
I wish Nintendo would at least put their games on PC. Games are what matter, and since the Wii/DS Nintendo’s hardware has been trash and gimmicky.
I don’t think I care about 4K for Zelda. I just care if it’s rich, beautifully crafted experience. BOTW is simply a fantastic game that awed me- I want the same feeling of awe in the second.
Let’s be honest, if the current Switch can barely run BOTW at 30fps and 780p (the pop up gets Daytona USA on Saturn level ridiculous in the desert); what kind of supernatural magic will make an affordable portable system that can run BOTW2 in 4K?
@sixrings i do respect your opinion, but saying you like low frame rates is just stupid. It's also impossible te be more immersive, because a game always feels much better en way more responsive with higher FPS. Imagine gliding through Hyrule on a higher resolution and FPS. It would make me a happy man.
Do not care if it is 720p 60fps as long as it's fun.
It certainly be nice but not hugely chuffed. I imagine most of us want it to just run well in both modes and have the usual stellar gameplay.
@sixrings excuse me but what the frickaty frock are u sayin mate
@sixrings For me, I just want a good frame rate, not good graphics.
@Spartan48 I would agree except for the fact that Walmart is practically giving 4K TVs away now.
Sarcasm is the lost art.
@Slinkoy1 no just 1. because if you do own Pro around that time you will get extra patched version to play 4K. That's what they have done games from base ps4 to ps4 PRO they all got patched and 4K support. You don't need to buy 2 versions. So don't worry
Interesting. I actually kind of prefer the 30fps version of the trailer. It loses something for me at a higher framerate.
@Collette Games will look and run fantastic on your 1080p TV. No worries.
Highest it goes is 720p. No 4K here.
I honestly doubt even a next-gen mobile platform could handle 4K60fps on such a game. We would still be talking about the dock, however...
Also, visuals ARE important when it comes to open-world landscape games like Breath of the Wild. You know higher resolutions will always help with visibility
Huh is this finally the first zelda game that we start with the master sword I bet not..
Wow! I really can't wiat 4 the new botw and hyrule warriors to come out!! I hope that Nintendo included some more features of the zoani like being able to discover thier secrets and who they really are! I also hope they expand the world a bit to and create some brand new places that we have never seen before 4 is to explore!! But all in all, I bet this is going to be one of the best zelda games of all time!!
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