Nintendo Switch 2 Delivers PS4-Level Graphics With Improvements It’s Claimed
[summaraize]
The team at Digital Foundry has published a preview of the graphics performance seen in games running on the new Nintendo Switch 2, suggesting that the new console offers graphics similar to the PlayStation 4, with some improvements.
The comparison was presented in the DF Direct Weekly #208 episode, focusing on games like Final Fantasy VII Remake, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring.
Quality Over Pixel Count May Matter More for Switch 2
According to Oliver Mackenzie, who led the analysis, the Switch 2 seems to run the Intergrade version of Final Fantasy VII Remake, which includes significant lighting changes compared to the original PS4 version. The light distribution on the face and body of the protagonist was noted as being more sophisticated. He explained that the Switch 2 seems to deliver a presentation comparable to the PS4, with the lighting adjustments in the Intergrade version being very positive
In terms of resolution, the game runs in 1080p on the Switch 2, just like the PS4, reinforcing the similarity in rendering quality.
For Hogwarts Legacy, a direct comparison was made with the PS4 version in the main dining hall. Interestingly, even though it was running at about 720p, the version shown on the Switch 2 had better clarity and less jagged edges.
The DF team suggested the use of modern temporal upscaling techniques, while the PS4 seemed to use FSR 1, which would explain the better visual quality despite the lower resolution. Oliver commented, “Presumably, there’s some kind of temporal upsampling process in use here, which produces a noticeably better result than the PS4.”
Elden Ring Comparison Still Not Possible
When it comes to Elden Ring, only a limited scene from a trailer was captured for comparison. The analysis shows that the level of detail, such as the shadow distance on trees, remains similar to the PS4. However, the image was softened, and the analysts admitted that they couldn’t accurately measure the rendering quality.
In terms of performance, the team noticed frame pacing issues and frame rate drops in some scenes, especially in Hogwarts Legacy and Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Despite these initial limitations, DF points out that the Switch 2 uses a modern graphical architecture, with support for technologies like ray tracing and mesh shading, similar to the RTX 30 series from NVIDIA. This could lead to more efficient use of techniques like DLSS in later stages of the console’s life cycle.
Alex Battaglia also mentioned that re-releases on the Switch 2 might allow developers to revisit past technical decisions, like in the case of Alien: Isolation on the original Switch. He added that using PC versions as the base for ports could improve the visual presentation.
They concluded by saying the the Switch 2 is delivering PS4-level graphics with notable improvements. For an initial batch of games, this provides a promising glimpse of what’s to come.
Metroid Prime 4 Runs in Native 4K and 60fps
It’s also worth noting that these comparisons were made with third-party games designed for PS4 or PS5 and Xbox. Metroid Prime 4, originally developed for the Nintendo Switch 1, achieves native 4K resolution while maintaining 60 frames per second.
As always, it’s worth checking out the full discussion and comparisons. Digital Foundry used high-quality press assets for the analysis but has stated that they will soon have hands-on access to the Nintendo Switch 2 to understand the details of all the technologies.
If you want to check out the comparisons, it’s important to watch the video on YouTube in 4K resolution, preferably on the largest and best screen available.
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