Nintendo Switch 2 Performance: Challenges Running Unreal Engine 5 Features; Fortnite as an Indicator

Nintendo Switch 2: Unreal Engine 5 Capabilities and Performance Insights

The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to support a comprehensive range of features from Unreal Engine 5. However, experts predict that the hardware may face challenges when attempting to utilize all of these features simultaneously.

Expert Insights from Digital Foundry

In a recent podcast episode, the tech analysts at Digital Foundry addressed a question from a fan regarding how the new Nintendo console will manage games developed on Unreal Engine 5. Specific features such as Nanite, Lumen, and Virtual Shadow Maps were highlighted as potential performance drainers. While definitive conclusions cannot yet be made, it appears that many games leveraging the engine might struggle to incorporate all these features concurrently, particularly if a steady frame rate of 30 FPS is a goal. This is especially concerning given the difficulties experienced by current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X when handling all three features together.

Realistic Expectations for Game Performance

Notably, this does not imply that Unreal Engine 5 games will be entirely absent from the Nintendo Switch 2; rather, they may need to forgo certain features for the sake of performance. Digital Foundry suggests that the performance of Fortnite on the new console serves as an indicative benchmark for what gamers might expect from UE5 titles. While Fortnite has been showcased running at 60 FPS on the Switch 2, it notably excludes Lumen, a feature recognized for its significant demands. Testing with titles like The Matrix Awakens further emphasizes the strain Lumen places on hardware, often leading to poor performance even at lower resolutions.

Given these insights, it is anticipated that features like Lumen and Virtual Shadow Maps may either be scaled back or omitted altogether to maintain playable frame rates and acceptable graphic fidelity on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Optimistic Outlook for Future Game Development

Despite the potential challenges with running Unreal Engine 5 at full capacity, the Nintendo Switch 2 has demonstrated strong performance with titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, which raises hopeful expectations for its capabilities. As developers become more familiar with the hardware, there’s a good chance the system will surprise users with its gaming performance over time.

Excitement is building for the official launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, set to take place on June 5th, when the gaming community will get its first real insight into what this next-generation console can achieve.