How will Switch 1 games perform?

[notsu]

I'm not naive enough to expect games to perform better without developers pushing patches, but could the Switch 2 run Switch 1 games at docked resolution in handheld mode?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Thanks to dynamic resolution scaling, the more demanding games should be able to run at higher average resolution without any changes.
That is assuming Nintendo allows the games to use the improved specs.
I'm hoping there will be updates to increase the FPS targets too, but realistically many games will never be updated.

 

[notsu]

I'm hoping there will be updates to increase the FPS targets too, but realistically many games will never be updated.

I'm assuming homebrew would be able to help with this, unless there's a sandboxed Switch 1 mode with limited processing power or something?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I'm assuming homebrew would be able to help with this, unless there's a sandboxed Switch 1 mode with limited processing power or something?

If/when we have access to it, which may be a while or never.
It is going to be sandboxed, just like everything on the Switch 1 is, but processing power depends on whether the CPU/GPU/RAM clock down when playing Switch 1 games (which we could not change without a kernel exploit)

 

[LightBeam]

There was a small mention basically saying that not all games were going to be compatible ...

And it doesn't look like they have the IR camera like the right joycon 1 did. That and the size difference will make stuff like Ring Fit Adventures of Nintendo Labo not really compatible either. Not a huge loss tbh.

The OS is supposed to be the same, right ? I wonder if the only difference is going to be the cartridge, so you can't put Switch 2 carts on a Switch 1.
My (game) theory is that by default, games will just feel more stable and immediately benefit from the better hardware (loading times, dynamic resolution, framerate ...), so they won't exactly play like they were on Switch. So maybe some will not even need a patch at all, but others will in order to unlock the framerate and/or the resolution. That means that without a patch, games that are already locked to hell won't be much different.

Idk that's just my worthless speculation about it. I just don't see why they would limit the processing power in a potential « Switch 1 mode », I don't think there are people craving for the « original Switch 1 experience »

 

[SeventhSon7]

4k 10 mil FPS

 

[nico77]

hmn
never thinkin about that
but
would be great
if switch 2 can bring/give a little boost for switch 1 games
(some games i play on switch 1, they locked to 30fps)
maybe bring more stable fps 30>60fps on switch 2.

also resolution maybe.


for me, as long it can run/give boost> stable at 60fps
thats really2 (+)plus point for switch 2

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

There was a small mention basically saying that not all games were going to be compatible ...

And it doesn't look like they have the IR camera like the right joycon 1 did. That and the size difference will make stuff like Ring Fit Adventures of Nintendo Labo not really compatible either. Not a huge loss tbh.

The OS is supposed to be the same, right ? I wonder if the only difference is going to be the cartridge, so you can't put Switch 2 carts on a Switch 1.
My (game) theory is that by default, games will just feel more stable and immediately benefit from the better hardware (loading times, dynamic resolution, framerate ...), so they won't exactly play like they were on Switch. So maybe some will not even need a patch at all, but others will in order to unlock the framerate and/or the resolution. That means that without a patch, games that are already locked to hell won't be much different.

Idk that's just my worthless speculation about it. I just don't see why they would limit the processing power in a potential « Switch 1 mode », I don't think there are people craving for the « original Switch 1 experience »

Worth noting they also give the "not all games are compatible" warning for both the Switch Lite and OLED due to things such as Labo.

 

[Jayro]

I'm assuming homebrew would be able to help with this, unless there's a sandboxed Switch 1 mode with limited processing power or something?

I'm really hoping that this isn't going to be the case, and don't think they'll go this route... I think the Switch games will just run natively with the extra headroom for improvement for things like higher FPS for games that struggle to stay at a constant 30 or 60, as well as less texture pop-in and less noticeable texture smearing due to the improved SoC. Making the system reboot into the sandboxed "Switch mode" that limits the hardware would suck.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

I'm really hoping that this isn't going to be the case, and don't think they'll go this route... I think the Switch games will just run natively with the extra headroom for improvement for things like higher FPS for games that struggle to stay at a constant 30 or 60, as well as less texture pop-in and less noticeable texture smearing due to the improved SoC. Making the system reboot into the sandboxed "Switch mode" that limits the hardware would suck.

Well you have to consider how this would be done. There are many methods to handle backwards compatibility and well that can be a rather complex thing to achieve,

 

[Jayro]

Well you have to consider how this would be done. There are many methods to handle backwards compatibility and well that can be a rather complex thing to achieve,

I believe they will go the easy route and just let the games run in the native mode. I really can't see why they wouldn't just do this, mostly from a cost-saving standpoint but also to keep things simple. My only reservations are there might be some weird resolution handling for some games that use dynamic resolution scaling like Xenoblade, but I feel like the extra hardware strength will handle the games just fine.

Post automatically merged: Jan 21, 2025

hmn
never thinkin about that
but
would be great
if switch 2 can bring/give a little boost for switch 1 games
(some games i play on switch 1, they locked to 30fps)
maybe bring more stable fps 30>60fps on switch 2.

also resolution maybe.


for me, as long it can run/give boost> stable at 60fps
thats really2 (+)plus point for switch 2

Games that can't even run at a stable 30fps like Hyrule Warriors 1 and 2 should be able to at least stay at a constant 30 now.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

I believe they will go the easy route and just let the games run in the native mode. I really can't see why they wouldn't just do this, mostly from a cost-saving standpoint but also to keep things simple. My only reservations are there might be some weird resolution handling for some games that use dynamic resolution scaling like Xenoblade, but I feel like the extra hardware strength will handle the games just fine.

Post automatically merged: Jan 21, 2025

Games that can't even run at a stable 30fps like Hyrule Warriors 1 and 2 should be able to at least stay at a constant 30 now.

But the Switch 2 is running a different chip series. They can't just natively run on it without some kind of patch or additional compatibility layer.

 

[nico77]

I believe they will go the easy route and just let the games run in the native mode. I really can't see why they wouldn't just do this, mostly from a cost-saving standpoint but also to keep things simple. My only reservations are there might be some weird resolution handling for some games that use dynamic resolution scaling like Xenoblade, but I feel like the extra hardware strength will handle the games just fine.

Post automatically merged: Jan 21, 2025

Games that can't even run at a stable 30fps like Hyrule Warriors 1 and 2 should be able to at least stay at a constant 30 now.

yes and...
they should stop 30 fps T T. on switch 2
kinda sad

i mean for next gen

60fps is wandaful next gen

 

[Jayro]

yes and...
they should stop 30 fps T T. on switch 2
kinda sad

i mean for next gen

60fps is wandaful next gen

I fully agree. I also look forward to a Splatoon 4, but I doubt it will be a launch title. Probably still a year or two out yet for that, realistically.

 

[Jayro]

Curious to know too! Hopefully, Switch 1 games will run smoothly with good graphics and performance. If it’s anything like Null's Brawl, we’re in for a treat!

I hope I can play Link's Awakening on Switch 2 without the slowdown at Gopongo Swamp.

 

[hippy dave]

I hope I can play Link's Awakening on Switch 2 without the slowdown at Gopongo Swamp.

Link's Awakening performance improves with overclocking, so yes it should automatically run better on Switch 2 without needing an update patch to do so (hmm, or maybe a patch would be needed to enable higher clocks, I guess time will tell).

If I max out clocks on my v1, performance issues in LA are minimised to small and occasional, so I imagine it would already be able to run perfect on v2/OLED with more drastic clocks. I'm guessing Switch 2 will run it smooth without breaking a sweat.

 

[Kioku]

But the Switch 2 is running a different chip series. They can't just natively run on it without some kind of patch or additional compatibility layer.

Different chip, same architecture. This time around it should (in theory, don't quote me on this) be much like upgrading from a 2014 smartphone to a 2020 one and the games just take advantage of the hardware buff. Obviously some patches may be in order for some games to work, but overall it shouldn't be any insane legwork to get done.

 

[pinbi7]

Switch game that ran like dog shit on the switch will run like dog shit on the switch 2, why would you update a game when you can re-release the same game for 60$?

 

[Jayro]

Switch game that ran like dog shit on the switch will run like dog shit on the switch 2, why would you update a game when you can re-release the same game for 60$?

I really don't see the Switch 2 being another port machine of Switch games to Switch 2, except for maybe the occasional first party game with extras added.

 

[Robert Newbie]

I'm hoping it's not so cut and dry that the Switch 1 games run identically (if at all) on the Switch 2. I don't see big companies releasing improvement patches for their games unless it makes for a good PR move.

It'd be great if some games really do benefit from the improved hardware, but I can absolutely see a scenario where they do not use it because those changes "may disrupt the originally-intended experience."

I really don't see the Switch 2 being another port machine of Switch games to Switch 2, except for maybe the occasional first party game with extras added.

Funky Kong's about to become a playable character in a whole host of games, starting with Metroid Dread.