The Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be far more capable than many expected, especially when it comes to third-party ports.
It’s not as strong as the Xbox Series S according to specs, but developers and porters don’t see that as a major problem anymore.
In fact, games that run well on the Series S, especially those hitting a consistent 60 FPS, are seen as perfect fits for the Switch 2.
The gap between the two systems isn’t as big as it was between the original Switch and other current-gen consoles, and the new system has some unique benefits.
How Does DLSS Give the Switch 2 an Advantage?
One of the biggest strengths working in the Switch 2’s favor is its support for NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling tech.
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+ 5The Series S lacks this feature and uses AMD’s FSR instead, which typically doesn’t keep images as sharp.
Despite having a slightly less powerful GPU, the Switch 2 can create visuals that look just as good or better with the help of smarter upscaling.
Developers using this technology have achieved decent performance and graphics for heavy games like Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2, which wasn’t possible on the original system.
What Kind of Series S Games Work Best on Switch 2?
According to Virtuos, any game that hits 60 frames per second on the Series S can be ported to the Switch 2 without much difficulty, as long as it’s not CPU-heavy. It all rests on how a game employs system resources.
click to enlarge + 5Games that depend heavily on CPU tasks such as AI, physics, or world streaming may require additional work to perform well.
That’s because the Switch 2’s CPU is still closer in design to what we saw in the PlayStation 4 era.
But for titles that are mostly GPU-bound or that target 30 FPS on Series S using scalable settings, the Switch 2 is expected to handle them well, particularly in docked mode.
What Should Players Expect in Terms of Trade-Offs?
Even so, expectations must be realistic; many are optimistic about ports such as Halo: Master Chief Collection, Gears of War, Dark Souls III, or Sea of Thieves arriving on Switch 2, but not all will support every feature.
click to enlarge + 5Trade-offs include a drop in NPC density, texture quality, or frame rate caps. But that’s nothing new for Nintendo platforms, and unlike with the original Switch, these compromises won’t be as extreme or game-breaking.
If a Series S version of a game can hit 30–60 FPS with decent settings, Switch 2 can likely manage a version of it that’s very playable.
Will Third-Party Support Improve on Switch 2?
More and more industry observers believe Nintendo’s new handheld console hybrid will enjoy stronger backing from third-party developers.
click to enlarge + 5Unlike in the past, when ports needed major downgrades or full rebuilds, the Switch 2 now provides enough power and modern features to make development smoother.
Having more RAM, updated APIs, and DLSS support helps close the difference. The console won’t outperform the Series S on every front, but it only needs to come close to attract a fresh batch of crossover games.
Why Aren’t More Games Coming to Switch 2 Yet?
Despite all that, the main challenge may not be performance but access.
click to enlarge + 5The late arrival of Switch 2 dev kits to some developers has slowed down their porting work.
Although studios like Virtuos are already involved, it could take a while before broad support comes together.
Judging by what we see so far, the Switch 2 should avoid the third-party drought that hit its predecessor.
At the end of the day, this generation is less about matching specs and more about optimizing smarter.
And in that space, games that run well on Xbox Series S are clearly positioned to thrive on the Switch 2—with the right tweaks and a bit of DLSS magic.
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