The Nintendo Switch 2 Can Deal with AAA Video games Better Than Individuals Assume

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When the Nintendo Switch 2 got here out, I used to be a bit skeptical that such a skinny and lightweight system may deal with AAA, blockbuster video games. But after I truly acquired it in my arms and reviewed it, I used to be impressed to see that it was able to operating demanding video games like Cyberpunk 2077 simply in addition to my Steam Deck may. Since then, it is continued to show itself by capably operating different beefy video games like Star Wars Outlaws and, extra not too long ago, Final Fantasy VIII Remake. The catch? All these video games have been all just a few years previous, and apart from Star Wars Outlaws, all of them had variations for last-generation methods.

As we began shifting into 2026, I used to be nonetheless left questioning how properly the Switch 2 will be capable to sustain with model new AAA titles as they arrive out. Based on some hands-on time I’ve had with two upcoming technical showpieces, the reply is “very well.”

Playing Pragmata on the Nintendo Switch 2

Last week, I attended a preview occasion hosted by Nintendo the place I acquired to play the Switch 2 editions for Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, in addition to the model new recreation, Mario Tennis Fever. All of those regarded nice, however they did not actually push any sort of graphical boundaries. My actual curiosity was within the two third-party titles on the occasion, each of which have been being proven off by Capcom.

The first was Pragmata, an upcoming sci-fi shooter that, most significantly for our functions, makes use of the notoriously performance-hungry RE Engine. When it really works, this engine is nice for constancy specifically lighting, however optimizing for the factor has been a nightmare on even highly effective methods, as evidenced by frame rate-wrecking bugs regularly popping up in video games like Monster Hunter Wilds. While that is an open-world recreation, which means it has to render so much without delay, Pragamata itself is not any slouch, and I figured it could make an ideal take a look at case for whether or not the Switch 2 can deal with not simply older AAA releases, however new ones, too.

The verdict? If you had informed me this factor have been operating on a PS5, I’d consider you. I performed the sport in each handheld and docked mode, and on the TV, it was straightforward to overlook the whole lot however the gameplay and simply sink proper into the expertise. Textures have been easy, the decision appeared to be at the very least a stable 1080p, if not increased, and I’d say the body charge was truly above 30 fps. I haven’t got any particular numbers—I wasn’t in a position to take a look at these settings on the occasion, and Capcom could not inform me any particulars—however my thought is that even when the graphics had compromises to run on the Switch 2, they weren’t noticeable and did not hamper my expertise. Hardware snobs who completely want a 4K decision and at the very least 60 fps would possibly wish to keep on with PC, however outcomes like this aren’t too far behind what the opposite house consoles can do with the latest video games and are a noticeable enchancment on how the unique Switch dealt with AAA video games.

There, blockbuster video games have been usually both pixelated and slow, or ran on the cloud and required an internet connection. Compromises like these have been comprehensible there, however it generally meant you have been focusing a lot on the sport’s technical points that it was tough to get immersed within the gameplay, assuming builders even bothered to port a recreation to Switch within the first place.

None of those have been issues after I was enjoying Pragmata on the Nintendo Switch 2. Controls have been snappy, environments have been straightforward to parse, and most impressively, the hair was on level! OK, which may sound a bit odd, however hear me out: It’s truly tremendous spectacular.

Naturalistic lengthy hair has been a nightmare for video video games to render till very not too long ago, which is why in the event you’ve ever performed a online game with a customizable character, the hair choices usually cap out at medium size, or are very stylized. Pragmata, in the meantime, makes some extent of getting a companion character at your facet always who has messy, frizzy, unkempt hair nearly all the way down to her waist. And every particular person strand of that hair has physics on it, so it strikes realistically fairly than as one large blob.

That takes numerous processing energy to simulate, and is clearly meant to be a little bit of a technical brag for Capcom. But whereas the devs’ work optimizing the sport to deal with this hair is unquestionably to be counseled, it is also reassuring that the Nintendo Switch 2 did not buckle in any respect whereas doing this. In truth, it appeared prefer it nonetheless had horsepower to spare, based mostly on how constant the gameplay was. I encountered no body charge dips, which was a lifesaver in pitched battles.

The solely noticeable high quality loss was after I performed in handheld mode, which appeared to scale back the decision to about 720p. Here, the sport regarded a bit pixelated, however on condition that the PS5 and Xbox do not even have an choice to go transportable, it is a compromise I’m keen to simply accept. In a good, TV-to-TV comparability, I’m completely happy to report that Pragmata on the Switch 2 is a greater than acceptable strategy to expertise the sport, even proper all the way down to that folicular constancy.

Playing Resident Evil Requiem on the Nintendo Switch 2

Pragmata is a reasonably recreation, little question, however the actual technical showpiece on the preview occasion was Resident Evil Requiem. Also utilizing the RE Engine, if Pragmata is a robust indicator for a way the Switch 2 simulates physics, then Resident Evil does the identical for lighting.

Again, efficiency is easy, however I’d say the decision right here is extra definitively nearer to 1080p whereas the body charge appears a bit of decrease than Pragmata‘s. Still, character fashions are detailed, and animations play out with none bizarre jitters. Resident Evil has made a reputation for itself on each of those fronts with its current titles, so it is nice to see these qualities preserved.

Based on my expertise with Pragmata, although, I anticipated this. What I did not anticipate was simply how real looking the lighting can be. Like the hair in Pragmata, real looking lighting is a little bit of a efficiency problem for video games, particularly now that many video games are utilizing ray tracing for his or her lighting, which implies that lighting is calculated in actual time utilizing real looking pathing for every ray of sunshine, fairly than being “baked” into scenes forward of time. This makes it simpler for lighting to vary on the fly and fall the place a participant would possibly naturally anticipate it to, one thing that is necessary for Resident Evil, for the reason that title makes use of it for gameplay. But it additionally places numerous pressure on the system.

I used to be a bit frightened going into this demo, as a result of whereas I knew the Switch 2 was supposed to have the ability to deal with ray tracing, I wasn’t able to consider it till I noticed it, particularly when it was getting used for greater than set dressing. In the demo I performed, there is a monster that may’t comply with you into the sunshine, and poor lighting would possibly make it unclear the place protected zones have been. But like with Pragmata, my technical skepticism rapidly drained away, and I as a substitute simply sat and quietly performed, immersed within the recreation like I’d be on another console.

Here’s the largest little bit of technical reward I can provide the Switch 2: Even in only a half hour of enjoying, Resident Evil Requiem on the Switch 2 nonetheless managed to scare the crap out of me. I left the occasion not sure of strolling out into the darkish evening exterior. If that does not let you know how purchased in I used to be in simply enjoying the sport, as a substitute of nitpicking pixelated character fashions or a wonky body charge, I do not know what’s going to.

What this implies for Nintendo Switch 2 house owners

I could not have been allowed to seize detailed efficiency information at this occasion, however I left fairly optimistic in regards to the Switch 2’s potential to deal with AAA video games. For years now, avid gamers have come to simply accept that multiplatform AAA titles will come out on Xbox and PlayStation, however will often both skip Nintendo or come out for it years down the road. That’s as a result of the Wii was a lot much less highly effective than the Xbox 360 and PS3, the Wii U was much less highly effective than the Xbox One and PS4, and the Switch was much less highly effective than the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. After the GameCube, Nintendo has at all times been at the very least a era behind in terms of efficiency.

Now, it may lastly stand toe-to-toe with its opponents once more, identical to once you had Nintendo’s purple lunchbox in your lounge. It is probably not on the zenith of efficiency, however it’s greater than acceptable. I do not know the way lengthy this established order will final—the following console era is rumored to be facing delays right now. But for now, Nintendo house owners can lastly play the latest blockbuster video games day-and-date with their Sony and Microsoft-owning associates, while not having to personal a second system. That’s nice for builders and avid gamers, and may put anybody who simply dropped $450 on Nintendo’s newest relaxed. You can lastly take note of new AAA video games as they arrive out once more, and plus, you continue to have that handheld mode occasion trick.