Digital Foundry, a leading authority in game technology analysis, has shared its detailed impressions of the new Nintendo Switch 2 port of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.
Originally developed by Square Enix, Final Fantasy VII Remake launched on PlayStation 4 in 2020, with the enhanced Intergrade edition arriving on PlayStation 5 a year later.
Now, the acclaimed RPG arrives on Nintendo's latest hardware, bringing both anticipation and scrutiny regarding its technical performance on a portable platform. In a recent video breakdown, Digital Foundry offered an in-depth look at how Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade fares on Nintendo Switch 2.
According to contributor Oliver Mackenzie, the Switch 2 version “essentially mirrors the PS5’s Intergrade build but utilizes visual settings more in line with the PS4 release.” This balance is particularly notable given the Switch 2’s hand-held capabilities and hardware constraints relative to home consoles. One of the key improvements highlighted by Digital Foundry is the significant upgrade in texture quality over the original PS4 release.
Notoriously low-resolution assets—such as the much-maligned Sector 7 slum doors—are now fully rendered, providing a visual experience that far surpasses the earlier console version.
Additionally, environments like ground and wall textures have been refined, although MacKenzie notes that certain signage and rock faces still fall short of the PS5’s top-tier rendering. Performance remains one of the port’s strongest aspects.
Docked gameplay on the Switch 2 sees Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade running at a stable 30 frames per second (fps) with a resolution of 1080p.
While employing a less advanced DLSS solution than the PS5, the port delivers sharper image quality in still frames compared to the PS4 release.
Although in-motion visuals appear slightly less refined, Digital Foundry consistently draws favorable comparisons with the PS5 edition. The handheld mode maintains solid performance, targeting a resolution around 720p.
Digital Foundry commends the portable image quality, calling it impressive for a game of such visual scale, despite minor artifacts and dithering.
Shadow quality and non-playable character (NPC) draw distances are generally on par with PS4 standards, but advantageously, the improved lighting effects from the PS5 version have been carried over. Load times are another win for the Switch 2, with reduced waits compared to the PS4, whether running from its internal SSD or SD Express storage options.
However, as expected, the PS5’s advanced architecture results in the fastest overall loading. Summing up their review, Digital Foundry describes the Nintendo Switch 2 release of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade as "largely an excellent Switch 2 port." The praise extends to its technical achievements and the successful preservation of the remake’s acclaimed presentation on a portable device.
For both Final Fantasy veterans revisiting Midgar and newcomers exploring it for the first time, the Switch 2 port stands as a compelling way to experience one of Square Enix’s most celebrated works.
Originally developed by Square Enix, Final Fantasy VII Remake launched on PlayStation 4 in 2020, with the enhanced Intergrade edition arriving on PlayStation 5 a year later.
Now, the acclaimed RPG arrives on Nintendo's latest hardware, bringing both anticipation and scrutiny regarding its technical performance on a portable platform. In a recent video breakdown, Digital Foundry offered an in-depth look at how Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade fares on Nintendo Switch 2.
According to contributor Oliver Mackenzie, the Switch 2 version “essentially mirrors the PS5’s Intergrade build but utilizes visual settings more in line with the PS4 release.” This balance is particularly notable given the Switch 2’s hand-held capabilities and hardware constraints relative to home consoles. One of the key improvements highlighted by Digital Foundry is the significant upgrade in texture quality over the original PS4 release.
Notoriously low-resolution assets—such as the much-maligned Sector 7 slum doors—are now fully rendered, providing a visual experience that far surpasses the earlier console version.
Additionally, environments like ground and wall textures have been refined, although MacKenzie notes that certain signage and rock faces still fall short of the PS5’s top-tier rendering. Performance remains one of the port’s strongest aspects.
Docked gameplay on the Switch 2 sees Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade running at a stable 30 frames per second (fps) with a resolution of 1080p.
While employing a less advanced DLSS solution than the PS5, the port delivers sharper image quality in still frames compared to the PS4 release.
Although in-motion visuals appear slightly less refined, Digital Foundry consistently draws favorable comparisons with the PS5 edition. The handheld mode maintains solid performance, targeting a resolution around 720p.
Digital Foundry commends the portable image quality, calling it impressive for a game of such visual scale, despite minor artifacts and dithering.
Shadow quality and non-playable character (NPC) draw distances are generally on par with PS4 standards, but advantageously, the improved lighting effects from the PS5 version have been carried over. Load times are another win for the Switch 2, with reduced waits compared to the PS4, whether running from its internal SSD or SD Express storage options.
However, as expected, the PS5’s advanced architecture results in the fastest overall loading. Summing up their review, Digital Foundry describes the Nintendo Switch 2 release of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade as "largely an excellent Switch 2 port." The praise extends to its technical achievements and the successful preservation of the remake’s acclaimed presentation on a portable device.
For both Final Fantasy veterans revisiting Midgar and newcomers exploring it for the first time, the Switch 2 port stands as a compelling way to experience one of Square Enix’s most celebrated works.
