Cyberpunk 2077 makes the Nintendo Switch 2 sweat quite a bit.
There were a few open World games on the first Nintendo Switch and they were also quite impressive, but hand on heart: they never really went that well. With the additional computing power of the Nintendo Switch 2, this should change a little, which also shows the announcement of cyberpunk 2077 for the hybrid handheld. Up to the launch, CD Project Red has to put a little time in optimizing the game …
The frame rate is still very shaky
In addition to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077 is probably one of the most ambitious open World projects on the Nintendo Switch 2. Graphically, the sci-fi role-playing game is still one of the most beautiful games ever-so it even landed in fourth place in our top list from 2023.
However, it ran there on consoles that easily swallowed the energy that the Nintendo Switch 2-chip consumed ten to twenty times the energy. How will Cyberpunk 2077 perform on Nintendo’s new handheld console?
Cyberpunk 2077 will also look really good on Switch 2, as this screenshot shows.
Our first impression was a bit divided at a allusion event in Paris. The game still looked really chic in trouser pocket format, but it was more likely to jerky down to 25 fps.
You can find out more about our observations on the experience event here:
The stipper is probably also available in docked mode, such as Digital Foundry reported. The title therefore ran in quality mode with 30 fps and drops on about 25 fps in graphically complex situations.
The journalist Jason Schreier commented on a frame rate of 40 FPS in performance mode at Docking Station with an “oof”.
Link to Bluesky content
However, the Nintendo Switch 2 now uses a 120 Hertz display, so the 40 FPS would actually look quite smooth on the handheld. Not as much as with 60 fps, but then a bit better than with 30 fps.
Why, you can find out here:
However, it could well be that the Switch 2 on the play station on which the industry expert played was operated at 60 Hertz on the TV dock. Then 40 FPS look extremely jerky, which could explain the reaction. As a reminder: The Switch 2 dominates 120 fps, but not in 4K.
0:42
All important information about Switch 2 in just 42 seconds: release, price, memory and more
Cyberpunk 2077 compared to the Witcher: With The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red has already brought a large open World game to the Nintendo Switch. The title also went quite well on the outdated handheld, but in cities the frame rate also fell to less than 20 fps every now and then. So if it stays with the 25 FPS drops, the Switch 2-cyberpunk still ran better than the witcher RPG.
The resolution is still very low
CD Projekt Red is currently targeting a maximum of 1080p with the TV dock and 720p in handheld mode. As with the switch version of The Witcher 3, a dynamic adjustment of the resolution is used, which is based on the calculation expenditure of the respective scene.
We’re Still Improving the Performance, but we’re targeting 1080p docked and 720p in handheld fashion, with 30-40 fps. Depending on the Mode, of Course (Performance VS Quality).
– Cyberpunk 2077 (@cyberpunkgame) April 3, 2025
According to Digital Foundry, the resolution in pre-published video skips falls on 540p, probably in handheld mode. If the material was absorbed on the TV dock, it fluctuates between 720p and 1080p.
No DLSS?
Technology connoisseurs will surely ask whether cyberpunk 2077 DLSS-Ki scaler from Nvidia will use for a sharper edition. However, since the method also takes up resources, it is unlikely that it will be worthwhile in such a GPU-limited game.
Cyberpunk 2077 will probably not be an absolute graphics board, in the size of the game and the numerous AI simulations that it spots, a release on switch 2 is still a considerable undertaking. After all, the title was never designed for a handheld!
And who knows what CD project Red gets out of the hardware. Until June 5, there is still a while for optimizations, then the Nintendo Switch 2 appears for 470 euros. The Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 has been announced for $ 70, so it should cost the equivalent of 70 euros.
Are you going to buy the game again for the Switch 2?