When the Nintendo Swap 2 got here out, I used to be a bit skeptical that such a skinny and lightweight gadget might deal with AAA, blockbuster video games. However after I really acquired it in my arms and reviewed it, I used to be impressed to see that it was able to working demanding video games like Cyberpunk 2077 simply in addition to my Steam Deck might. Since then, it is continued to show itself by capably working different beefy video games like Star Wars Outlaws and, extra just lately, Ultimate Fantasy VIII Remake. The catch? All these video games had been all just a few years previous, and except for Star Wars Outlaws, all of them had variations for last-generation programs.
As we began transferring into 2026, I used to be nonetheless left questioning how properly the Swap 2 will have the ability to sustain with model new AAA titles as they arrive out. Based mostly on some hands-on time I’ve had with two upcoming technical showpieces, the reply is “very properly.”
Taking part in Pragmata on the Nintendo Swap 2
Final week, I attended a preview occasion hosted by Nintendo the place I acquired to play the Swap 2 editions for Tremendous Mario Bros. Marvel and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, in addition to the model new recreation, Mario Tennis Fever. All of those seemed nice, however they did not actually push any form of graphical boundaries. My actual curiosity was within the two third-party titles on the occasion, each of which had been being proven off by Capcom.
The primary 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 particularly lighting, however optimizing for the factor has been a nightmare on even highly effective programs, as evidenced by body rate-wrecking bugs frequently popping up in video games like Monster Hunter Wilds. Whereas that is an open-world recreation, which means it has to render lots directly, Pragamata itself isn’t any slouch, and I figured it might make an ideal take a look at case for whether or not the Swap 2 can deal with not simply older AAA releases, however new ones, too.
The decision? In the event you had informed me this factor had been working on a PS5, I might consider you. I performed the sport in each handheld and docked mode, and on the TV, it was simple to overlook every little thing however the gameplay and simply sink proper into the expertise. Textures had been clean, the decision gave the impression to be no less than a strong 1080p, if not increased, and I might say the body price was really above 30 fps. I haven’t got any particular numbers—I wasn’t capable of 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 Swap 2, they weren’t noticeable and did not hamper my expertise. {Hardware} snobs who completely want a 4K decision and no less than 60 fps would possibly wish to follow PC, however outcomes like this aren’t too far behind what the opposite dwelling consoles can do with the latest video games and are a noticeable enchancment on how the unique Swap dealt with AAA video games.
There, blockbuster video games had been usually both pixelated and sluggish, or ran on the cloud and required an web connection. Compromises like these had been comprehensible there, nevertheless it generally meant you had been focusing a lot on the sport’s technical points that it was troublesome to get immersed within the gameplay, assuming builders even bothered to port a recreation to Swap within the first place.
None of those had been issues after I was enjoying Pragmata on the Nintendo Swap 2. Controls had been snappy, environments had been simple to parse, and most impressively, the hair was on level! OK, which may sound a bit odd, however hear me out: It is really tremendous spectacular.
Naturalistic lengthy hair has been a nightmare for video video games to render till very just lately, which is why in case 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 a degree of getting a companion character at your aspect 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 slightly than as one large blob.
That takes a whole lot of processing energy to simulate, and is clearly meant to be a little bit of a technical brag for Capcom. However whereas the devs’ work optimizing the sport to deal with this hair is unquestionably to be counseled, it is also reassuring that the Nintendo Swap 2 did not buckle in any respect whereas doing this. In actual fact, it appeared prefer it nonetheless had horsepower to spare, based mostly on how constant the gameplay was. I encountered no body price dips, which was a lifesaver in pitched battles.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
The one noticeable high quality loss was after I performed in handheld mode, which appeared to cut back the decision to about 720p. Right here, the sport seemed a bit pixelated, however provided that the PS5 and Xbox do not even have an choice to go moveable, it is a compromise I am keen to just accept. In a good, TV-to-TV comparability, I am completely satisfied to report that Pragmata on the Swap 2 is a greater than acceptable approach to expertise the sport, even proper all the way down to that folicular constancy.
Taking part in Resident Evil Requiem on the Nintendo Swap 2
Pragmata is a fairly recreation, little question, however the true technical showpiece on the preview occasion was Resident Evil Requiem. Additionally utilizing the RE Engine, if Pragmata is a robust indicator for the way the Swap 2 simulates physics, then Resident Evil does the identical for lighting.
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Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Once more, efficiency is clean, however I might say the decision right here is extra definitively nearer to 1080p whereas the body price appears slightly decrease than Pragmata‘s. Nonetheless, 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 latest titles, so it is nice to see these qualities preserved.
Based mostly on my expertise with Pragmata, although, I anticipated this. What I did not count on was simply how lifelike the lighting can be. Just like the hair in Pragmata, lifelike 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 lifelike pathing for every ray of sunshine, slightly 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 count on it to, one thing that is vital for Resident Evil, for the reason that title makes use of it for gameplay. However it additionally places a whole lot of pressure on the system.
I used to be a bit nervous going into this demo, as a result of whereas I knew the Swap 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. Within 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 secure zones had been. However like with Pragmata, my technical skepticism shortly drained away, and I as an alternative simply sat and quietly performed, immersed within the recreation like I might be on some other console.
Here is the most important little bit of technical reward I can supply the Swap 2: Even in only a half hour of enjoying, Resident Evil Requiem on the Swap 2 nonetheless managed to scare the crap out of me. I left the occasion uncertain of strolling out into the darkish night time exterior. If that does not let you know how purchased in I used to be in simply enjoying the sport, as an alternative of nitpicking pixelated character fashions or a wonky body price, I do not know what’s going to.
What this implies for Nintendo Swap 2 homeowners
I’ll not have been allowed to seize detailed efficiency knowledge at this occasion, however I left fairly optimistic concerning the Swap 2’s skill to deal with AAA video games. For years now, players have come to just 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 is 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 Swap was much less highly effective than the PS5 and Xbox Collection consoles. After the GameCube, Nintendo has all the time been no less than a technology behind in relation to efficiency.
Now, it may well lastly stand toe-to-toe with its opponents once more, similar to if you had Nintendo’s purple lunchbox in your front room. It is probably not on the zenith of efficiency, nevertheless it’s greater than acceptable. I do not understand how lengthy this establishment will final—the subsequent console technology is rumored to be going through delays proper now. However for now, Nintendo homeowners 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 is nice for builders and players, and may put anybody who simply dropped $450 on Nintendo’s newest relaxed. You may lastly take note of new AAA video games as they arrive out once more, and plus, you continue to have that handheld mode social gathering trick.
