Elden Ring’s Switch 2 Performance Raises Questions About These Other Upcoming Switch 2 Games

The hands-on previews for Elden Ring on the Switch 2 have been unsettling as the Nintendo Console isn't able to maintain the 30 FPS target, especially in the busier open-world sections of the game. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition's lackluster performance on Switch 2 raises concerns about some of the other upcoming AAA titles heading to Switch 2, especially where their performance and visual fidelity in handheld mode are concerned. The impressive performance of CD Projekt RED's Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 might not be the case for all other AAA ports heading to the platform, as evidenced by the poor optimization of Elden Ring.

• Release Date: September 4, 2025
• Developer — Team Cherry
• Publisher — Team Cherry

Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of the most anticipated games on this list, as well as the least demanding. On paper, it should run without any issues whatsoever, and based on first impressions, it appears to run beautifully on the Switch 2. Unlike Elden Ring's struggle to maintain 30 fps, Silksong consistently achieves a rock-solid 60 fps in handheld mode. The only genuine concern is that the 120 fps mode in docked mode operates at a reduced resolution.

• Release Date: September 4, 2025
• Developer — Massive Entertainment
• Publisher — Ubisoft

Star Wars Outlaws is quite different from Hollow Knight: Silksong, and it happens to be releasing on the Switch 2 on the same day. It's a sprawling open-world action-adventure set across multiple planets and outer space that even had some performance issues on PC and other consoles. Considering that Star Wars Outlaws couldn't maintain a stable 30 FPS on the Steam Deck at the time of its release, the title's Switch 2 performance has some big concerns hanging over it. In handheld mode, players can at least likely expect reduced resolution, which is a given for most AAA titles on Switch 2. As long as the game's performance doesn't struggle, though, reduced resolution isn't a deal-breaker.

• Release Date: September 5, 2025
• Developer — Bloober Team
• Publisher — Bloober Team

Bloober Team's Cronos: The New Dawn is different from a lot of other AAA ports heading to the Switch 2 in that it was developed concurrently with other versions. With all versions of Cronos arriving on the same day, the general hope is that Bloober Team has confidence in the title's Switch 2 version. It is also a relief to know that the Gamescom demo for the Switch 2 version has gotten a positive reception, which is likely due to the narrower scope of the title in comparison to a game like Elden Ring. Early reports have confirmed that Cronos runs at a consistent 30 FPS in handheld mode, which proves that Unreal Engine 5 titles with decent visuals at 30 fps are indeed a realistic expectation. Perhaps it's only open-world titles that are at risk of poor performance.

• Release Date: October 3, 2025
• Developer — Gearbox Software
• Publisher — 2K

Judging from the series' previous ports to the original Nintendo Switch, Borderlands 4 is almost guaranteed to be locked at 30 FPS on the Switch 2 in handheld mode, as well as feature dynamic resolution. Ultimately, how well the game runs will depend on the right cutbacks. Borderlands is a franchise known for busy screens, particle effects, and the like, which could prove to be a lot for the Switch 2 to handle in handheld mode. It's also slightly concerning that the Switch 2 version of Borderlands 4 is set to arrive almost a month after the game releases on other platforms. With any luck, Borderlands 4 will launch on Switch 2 with plenty of performance and visual options for players to tweak to make the game an enjoyable experience, whether playing docked or in handheld mode.

• Release Date: October 16, 2025
• Developer — Game Freak
• Publisher — Nintendo

First-party Nintendo titles are usually a safe bet for having better-than-average performance compared to other AAA titles, but after the terrible performance of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, gamers are understandably cautious about the newest Pokémon Legends game. It's a safe bet to assume that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will run just fine in docked mode, with the title's performance in handheld mode being the bigger cause for concern. The Switch 2 version is expected to offer higher resolutions and better frame rates compared to the original Switch version, but the full details on what those differences will be are still unknown.