The first press reviews of the Nintendo Switch 2 are in. From the console's hardware and performance to first-party and third-party games, can the console redefine portable AAA?
The Switch 2 under the microscope of the press
Alongside Nintendo Direct, the French and international press were able to test the Nintendo Switch 2 before anyone else (the public has this chance starting today and running until April 6 at the Grand Palais in France). During its conference, Nintendo promised much more robust hardware than that of the original Switch. 1080p, a 60Hz refresh rate (up to 120 fps in docked mode on some games), ray tracing support, with the ability to go up to 4k with HDR in docked mode, as well as better stability observed at 60fps also on certain titles).
Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, The Duskbloods as well as a multitude of third-party games and ports announced for the console were able to pass the testers' analysis. So do the big first-party games run at a constant 60 fps? What about the big ports announced for the console, like Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, Elden Ring, Final Fantasy VII Remake, or even Hogwarts Legacy? More broadly, will we finally be able to play third-party games properly on Switch 2?
Can we play third-party games and ports properly on Switch 2?
With its avalanche of third-party games and ports, Nintendo intends to play on the same level as Sony and its PS5, as well as Microsoft and its Xbox Series XIS. Where the Switch struggled on this point, its little sister seems to offer a better experience to players.
The media Digital Foundry has provided an analysis of the performance tests of the announced games. While Donkey Bananza and Mario Kart World are very stable at 60 fps, and run at 1080p and 1440p respectively, The Duskbloods from From Software doesn't exceed 30 fps.
Regarding ports, technical limitations are felt. Digital Foundry, like other media specializing in video games, are in concert. Hogwarts Legacy is a good example. In certain open areas, framerate drops are constant, especially when the player has to face several enemies. Furthermore, some textures remain bland, especially the backgrounds and the main character. The display distance also has its limits.
Another game, same observation. Cyberpunk 2077 displays a certain motion blur when moving the camera. A certain limitation built in to avoid damaging the console. The same goes for the textures, which are sometimes quite bland. Without the SSD (from the PS5), loading times become longer. As with Hogwarts Legacy, the game drops below 30 fps during big action phases and shooting in open areas.
But Nintendo's argument is to be able to play anywhere, anytime, thanks to portable mode. The underlying promise is to be able to take our adventure on the train, bus, or car, and experience it with far fewer technical limitations. Aware of its limitations, Nintendo is still offering many players the opportunity to play big games on the go, more than adequately. A major first.
Be careful, though, titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 drain the console's battery enormously, and future players will then be asked to make graphical compromises, dynamic blur, and opt for lighter textures.
Can the Switch 2 redefine portable AAA?
Then a big question arises: who is the Switch 2 for? Gamers who don't own a PS5 or Xbox Series will likely be delighted to be able to launch the big titles released in recent years. Especially since they'll be more accepting of the Switch 2 version's technical issues, since they haven't played on Sony and Microsoft's big machines. However, there remains the thorny issue of the console's price (and Mario Kart World), and who will want to pay that much to enjoy this more flexible gaming experience.
Without revolutionizing anything in this area, or even establishing itself as a serious competitor to the Xbox Series or the PS5, the Switch 2 seeks to make them less necessary, with the backdrop of: why play elsewhere?
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