Nintendo Switch 2
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It was originally reported that the Nintendo Switch 2 was comparable to the PlayStation 4 in terms of specs. However, after launch, we were then told it’s actually closer to the Xbox Series S, putting the console in a similar position to at least one other current-gen console.
Now, developer Virtuos has also compared the Switch 2 to the Series S, saying that any game that performs well on the less-powerful Xbox shouldn’t be a problem to get running on the new Nintendo hardware. And yet, there is a caveat in there — it needs to run well enough to hit 60fps on Series S, and not be too CPU-intensive.
Switch 2 Ports Sound Easier, But Still Require Time
This comes from a Virtuos developer Q&A with Wccftech, in which the team shed some light on the process of working with the Switch 2. Here, they reveal that there isn’t a direct comparison to be made between the two consoles, but the end result is comparable.
«GPU-wise, the Switch 2 performs slightly below the Series S; this difference is more noticeable in handheld mode,» says technical director Eoin O’Grady. «However, the Series S does not support technologies like DLSS, which the Switch 2 does. This makes the GPU capabilities of the two consoles comparable overall.»
O’Grady goes on to explain that the Switch 2 is more comparable to the PS4 in terms of its CPU specs, but considering that the GPU is more significant, it’s the performance on Series S which will be the deciding factor in determining how easy it will be to port a game to Switch 2.
«Any game shipping at 60 FPS on the Series S should easily port to the Switch 2. Likewise, a 30 FPS Series S game that’s GPU-bound should also port well,» O’Grady explains. «Games with complex physics, animations, or other CPU-intensive elements might incur additional challenges in reaching 30 or 60 FPS or require extra optimisation during porting.»
This tracks with what we’ve seen so far. Cyberpunk 2077 can hit 60fps on Xbox Series S, but the update that added that in never made its way to PS4. Now, Cyberpunk 2077 can be played on the Nintendo Switch 2, and from all accounts, runs pretty damn well. Admittedly, the highest you’ll get on Switch 2 is 40fps in performance mode, but this does suggest that a game hitting 60fps on Series S gives devs a lot to play around with when it comes to porting the game.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that the Series S itself is struggling to keep up as we get later into the console generation, with developers often complaining about its limitations. However, the benefit of the Switch 2 port is that devs can take their time, whereas anyone who wants to launch on Xbox Series X will have to simultaneously optimise for Series S. Still, this is all more positive than it was with the original Switch in the mix.
Nintendo Switch 2
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