Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is safely in the hands of the millions of gamers around the world, it is interesting to see what everyone is playing. No doubt Mario Kart World tops the charts, but according to Nintendo Life, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is the number two eShop best-seller in the US. I have never played this epic title by CD Projekt Red thanks to their infamous bumpy launch, but I chose this as my first Switch 2 game, solely to test the consoles’ limits. My playthrough thus far has not disappointed; in fact, Cyberpunk 2077‘s performance on the Switch 2 far exceeds expectations.
Firstly, let’s get the specs out of the way, thanks to Digital Foundry. Firstly, I commend CD Projekt Red for taking on the port themselves (though that does not surprise me with their Witcher 3 port on the Switch). There are two modes: quality mode at 30 FPS and performance mode at 40 FPS. When your Switch 2 is docked, it aims for1080p with DLSS. When in handheld, a range of 360p to 720p is reported. Sure, to the PC snobs of this world, this is nothing compared to the 60 to over 100 frames they get; however, I feel quality isn’t measured these numbers alone.
Digital Foundry continues on, sharing various highlights observed on the Switch 2, including NPC and vehicle density at parity with the PlayStation 4 and texture quality setting with the PlayStation 5. They even stated that the resolution on the Switch 2 at times surpasses that of the Xbox Series S. Sure, there are still limitations that are noticeable, such as quality of reflections in the mirror and a sequence with a lot going on can lead the DLSS to struggle hiding lower resolutions.
Now how about the “average Joe” such as myself? First of all, I was impressed the entire game fit entirely onto the cartridge and not as a Game-Key Card. Second of all, I would agree with Digital Foundry’s statements, although I don’t count frames and rarely can tell as long as it’s not an extreme dip (think setting a field of grass on fire in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the original Switch). I was genuinely impressed by how gorgeous Night City looked and how crisp the NPCs were. Moving around, gunning, and running, all felt buttery smooth, and nothing felt janky.
Perhaps my bar was set low, a little hesitant about whether Nintendo could finally put out a powerful enough system; however, I can honestly say that (at least for now), I could not tell the difference between this and a large open-world game on my PS5.
This is all to say personal experience has lined up with the technical specs, and I am convinced that releasing Cyperpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition as a Switch 2 launch title was not only a smart move on Nintendo’s part, but also a sign of technological power fans have been waiting for. A massive open world that can run well on the Switch 2 bodes well for waves of third-party titles like Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Borderlands 4, The Duskbloods, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and even the newly announced 007: First Light.
The proof is in the pudding. Cyberpunk 2077 almost acted like the first experiment and proving grounds for the Switch 2 and based on outlets like Digital Foundry and personal experience, the game’s performance on this console has far exceeded my expectations.
Have you tried Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2 yet? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
Pow Block Podcast – A Nintendo Podcast by Boss Rush
Nintendo Pow Block is the weekly Nintendo Podcast for Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, Edward Varnell and Corey Dirrig, as well as their friends from around the internet dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo, including news, rumors, new games, discuss weekly pickups, and fan favorite segments like Question Block where they answer community questions, what they’ve been playing in Playing with Power, and their latest food quests in Snacktendo! New episodes every Monday on YouTube and podcast services.
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Sources: Nintendo Life, Digital Foundry, Nintendo Everything,
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