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A major question has hung over Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2: can it truly compete with the current generation of consoles when it comes to demanding third-party games? A new, in-depth technical analysis of a Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo running on the hardware provides a resounding, and somewhat surprising, answer. According to the experts at Digital Foundry, Nintendo’s next-gen port isn’t just holding its own—it’s stepping into the ring with platforms like the Xbox Series S and even giving the PS5 and Series X versions a reason to glance over their shoulders.
For skeptics who wondered if the rumored Switch 2 specs could handle a modern, visually intensive title like Square Enix’s epic remake, the results are encouraging. The demo held a stable frame rate close to the target 30 frames per second, with fewer noticeable stutters than seen in earlier leaked footage. While performance saw more dips in handheld mode, testers found the overall experience remarkably comparable to playing on a base PlayStation 4.
A Sharper Image Than Expected: The DLSS Advantage
Where the Switch 2 port truly begins to impress is in image quality. It’s not just competing with last-gen hardware; it’s giving the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions a run for their money in certain areas. The secret weapon? Nintendo’s console reportedly employs NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) upscaling technology. While it’s likely a tailored, lighter variation of the tech, the result is scenery that is “surprisingly sharp,” according to the analysis.
This is perfectly illustrated in side-by-side comparisons. In the video analysis below, you can see how the Switch 2 leverages its AI-driven upscaling to clean up edges and reconstruct detail, creating a picture that often looks cleaner than the Xbox Series S output, despite running at a lower native resolution.
In portable mode, DLSS is tasked with boosting a base resolution of 720p up to 1080p, though Dynamic Resolution Scaling (DRS) is also in effect. This means that during more complex scenes, some textures can appear momentarily softer. The most notable visual drawback noted was an excess of dithering, particularly affecting shadow quality and making them less defined than on other consoles.
The Stress Test: How Does Fast Motion Hold Up?
The still screenshots from the analysis show textures that are generally sharp on the handheld screen. However, the true test of any upscaling solution is in motion. When the frantic, real-time combat of Final Fantasy 7 Remake kicks in, the rapid movement can expose some slight flaws, with objects showing more jagged edges. That said, when the console is docked and outputting a stable 1080p, the higher pixel count does an excellent job of masking these minor deficiencies.
The comparison to the Xbox Series S is particularly telling. Microsoft’s console runs the game at 1440p in its graphics mode, but the analysis suggests the Switch 2’s 1080p image frequently looks cleaner. Credit is again given to the superiority of DLSS in this implementation over the more traditional Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA) used in the Unreal Engine 4 build of the game.
A Promising Foundation for the Future
This performance didn’t happen by accident. Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, revealed that a dedicated team was assigned to perfect the experience on each platform. For the Switch 2, that strategic focus seems to have paid off handsomely for Remake. It bodes well for the system’s third-party support, proving it can be a viable home for major cross-platform releases.
The real test, however, may be the sequel. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and its expansive open-world zones will undoubtedly present a greater challenge for the portable hardware. But before players can contemplate that journey on Switch 2, they’ll get to experience the complete Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade—including the Episode INTERmission DLC—when it launches on January 22nd. Based on this demo, they can expect a premium, faithful experience that solidifies the Switch 2 as a formidable player in the console landscape.