Will the Nintendo Switch Do VR?

Image credit: Overcrotch

Since the Nintendo Switch’s launch, there have been various rumors that Nintendo has virtual reality ambitions. This is partly because of Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima’s comments. Discussing the possibility of Nintendo Switch VR Porn earlier in the year, I wrote the following: In fact, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima just said that the highly transformable Nintendo Switch used for a Nintendo produced virtual reality experience. Without being clear on when the Switch would get virtual reality capabilities, Kimishima said: “we will add VR to Switch once they figure out how users can play for hours without problems.”

If the Switch does jump into VR, there are some huge problems that Nintendo will need to solve. Just recently, a YouTuber has got VR up and running the Nintendo Switch. This YouTuber that goes by the name of Nintendrew, proves that a VR Switch will be possible but Nintendo will have to up their ante in the hardware game.

A History of VR Issues

It’s rare for Nintendo to make tantalizing and speculative admissions like this. It is also rare for Nintendo to bring up virtual reality after the spectacular failure that was the virtual boy. Yes, for those that never got to play the Virtual Boy, it was a huge ding-binger. In other words, a stinker of the stinkiest pedigree. It required users to lean into a headset because its 1990s tech was obviously too heavy to ever fit on a user’s head for any length of time. Beyond being stupidly heavy and requiring users to lean into a stand, the Virtual Boy also had shitty red-and-black 2d sprite based graphics that were weirdly 3d. Perhaps because it was before its time, the Virtual Boy was crippled from the get-go by its hardware.

Early Virtual Boy Adult Rom. Image credit: I’Max and VrCosplayX

Problems with the Switch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t_9Q1lK3s8

As I mentioned, a YouTuber has just recently figured out how to run basic virtual reality videos on the Switch. Nintendrew’s experiment shows Nintendo has some serious issues to solve. These issues are fairly serious and in my opinion, they may mean that we will have to wait for a second generation Nintendo Switch with a higher resolution screen and a more powerful CPU/GPU combo.

To explore the potentials of VR on the Switch, Nintendrew used a virtual reality headset that was designed for small tablets. He then managed to get a 3D video playing the tablet with a web browser. If you want to try similar antics, check out the following link:
http://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-access-youtube-via-charles-proxy-on-switch-with-working-video-playback.463253/.

Nintendrew’s hacky method worked, and 3d video could be viewed on the Switch. That said, this is not surprising because why wouldn’t the Switch be able to do this if properly adjusted to VR lenses? The biggest issue is that the Switch’s screen is only 1280 X 720 which is a pretty low resolution. The Oculus DK1 was around this resolution and it made things look pretty grainy. The Switch’s large screen size also was problematic because the headset’s lenses could only focus on a small central portion of the screen which provided even less overall displayable pixels.

Switch VR Patent? Image credit: The Verge

Potentials and Future Switch

These issues aside, the Switch does potentially offer some unique possibilities for VR. Its motion controllers would be perfect for VR simulations, games, and room-scale home-brew virtual reality porn. To get around most of these issues, all Nintendo would need to do is release a new Switch with a higher resolution screen like those included in Samsung Galaxy S phones. Including a modest CPU/GPU upgrade and a higher resolution screen doesn’t seem like that far-fetched of scenario given that Sony and Microsoft are now pushing higher power mid-cycle updates.

Additionally, this is what phone manufacturers do every year. Beyond the rest of the market, Nintendo has also had a habit of upgrading their portables in many unique and exciting ways. This demonstrates that in a year or two, we will see some sort of Switch upgrade. I would be very surprised if this upgrade didn’t involve the aforementioned spec bump.