Diablo IV, Blizzard Entertainment’s dark-action RPG released on June 6, 2023, has arrived on Nintendo's latest hardware in the Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection for Nintendo Switch 2.
The collection bundles the base game with both expansions, Vessel of Hatred and Lord of Hatred, delivering a comprehensive package of Sanctuary content to the hybrid console.
This release brings Blizzard’s ongoing post-launch roadmap to a new audience while introducing the usual trade-offs that come with adapting a demanding action-RPG to portable-capable hardware.
The most important change for Switch 2 owners is straightforward: the Age of Hatred Collection requires a persistent internet connection.
As one reviewer noted, the Switch 2 edition is only playable online, meaning players must remain connected to access any part of the game.
That limitation stands in contrast to previous Nintendo releases in the franchise—Diablo III and Diablo II: Resurrected offered offline play with periodic online check-ins—making the portability advantage of the Switch 2 less complete for this title.
On the technical side, the Switch 2 port offers two graphics modes.
Handheld players get a performance mode that targets roughly 40 frames per second, while docked play can select a quality mode targeting 1440p at 30 frames per second.
Those modes are accompanied by reduced visual detail in places compared with high-end PC and console versions, but the performance mode provides a generally acceptable experience and often compares favorably to last-generation console ports.
The game supports Battle.net connectivity, including cross-platform multiplayer and cloud-based saves tied to Blizzard accounts.
Content-wise, the collection delivers the core Diablo IV loop—open-world exploration across multiple regions, procedurally generated dungeons, story and side activities, and a range of character builds.
The base game was improved substantially across its first expansion cycle, and Lord of Hatred adds further late-game content.
As with other modern Blizzard releases, Diablo IV includes optional cosmetic microtransactions in an in-game store.
Verdict: Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection on Nintendo Switch 2 is a substantial, playable port that brings the full Sanctuary experience to Nintendo’s new console.
It makes sensible performance compromises to fit the hardware and maintains online features like cross-play and cloud saves, but the always-online requirement will be a dealbreaker for players who value true offline portability.
Version tested: Nintendo Switch 2 (review copy provided by Blizzard Entertainment).
Review attributed to Shaun Musgrave, who rated the port 8/10.
The collection bundles the base game with both expansions, Vessel of Hatred and Lord of Hatred, delivering a comprehensive package of Sanctuary content to the hybrid console.
This release brings Blizzard’s ongoing post-launch roadmap to a new audience while introducing the usual trade-offs that come with adapting a demanding action-RPG to portable-capable hardware.
The most important change for Switch 2 owners is straightforward: the Age of Hatred Collection requires a persistent internet connection.
As one reviewer noted, the Switch 2 edition is only playable online, meaning players must remain connected to access any part of the game.
That limitation stands in contrast to previous Nintendo releases in the franchise—Diablo III and Diablo II: Resurrected offered offline play with periodic online check-ins—making the portability advantage of the Switch 2 less complete for this title.
On the technical side, the Switch 2 port offers two graphics modes.
Handheld players get a performance mode that targets roughly 40 frames per second, while docked play can select a quality mode targeting 1440p at 30 frames per second.
Those modes are accompanied by reduced visual detail in places compared with high-end PC and console versions, but the performance mode provides a generally acceptable experience and often compares favorably to last-generation console ports.
The game supports Battle.net connectivity, including cross-platform multiplayer and cloud-based saves tied to Blizzard accounts.
Content-wise, the collection delivers the core Diablo IV loop—open-world exploration across multiple regions, procedurally generated dungeons, story and side activities, and a range of character builds.
The base game was improved substantially across its first expansion cycle, and Lord of Hatred adds further late-game content.
As with other modern Blizzard releases, Diablo IV includes optional cosmetic microtransactions in an in-game store.
Verdict: Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection on Nintendo Switch 2 is a substantial, playable port that brings the full Sanctuary experience to Nintendo’s new console.
It makes sensible performance compromises to fit the hardware and maintains online features like cross-play and cloud saves, but the always-online requirement will be a dealbreaker for players who value true offline portability.
Version tested: Nintendo Switch 2 (review copy provided by Blizzard Entertainment).
Review attributed to Shaun Musgrave, who rated the port 8/10.
