Assassin’s Creed Shadows is making headlines once again, this time thanks to its recently released port for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Developed and published by Ubisoft, this ambitious entry brings the signature open-world stealth action of the Assassin’s Creed franchise to Nintendo’s next-generation hybrid hardware.
In a comprehensive technical analysis, Digital Foundry—respected for its in-depth performance reviews—has taken a close look at how Assassin’s Creed Shadows stacks up on the Switch 2 when compared to other platforms such as the Xbox Series S. The evaluation by Digital Foundry begins by establishing a baseline with the Xbox Series S edition, widely regarded as a technically solid version for current-generation consoles.
When compared directly, the Nintendo Switch 2 port exhibits several expected visual compromises.
The Switch 2 foregoes screen space reflections (SSR), resulting in significantly reduced water reflections and movement fidelity.
Additionally, foliage density is noticeably scaled back at mid-range distances, and texture resolutions are lowered to accommodate the device’s hardware limitations.
Ironically, the game’s namesake shadows lack some of the definition seen on the Series S.
These reductions, however, align with the constraints imposed by the Switch 2’s physical storage, as the game's file size is half that of its Xbox counterpart. Despite these visual modifications, Digital Foundry concluded that the Switch 2 version remains "a pretty handsome rendition of the game," crediting Ubisoft with delivering a remarkably faithful port.
The adaptation utilizes DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology to effectively upscale the docked mode's base resolution of 648p, producing an image quality that surpasses expectations for the numbers on paper.
For handheld gameplay, resolutions may dip as low as 400p, but impressive clarity is maintained, with Digital Foundry describing the visuals as "pretty respectable" in action.
They even noted the Switch 2’s portable mode provided more consistent performance than the docked configuration. Performance-wise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 generally achieves its 30fps target during standard gameplay.
However, Digital Foundry observed less optimal frame pacing and minor drops in framerate during particularly demanding scenes or cinematic sequences.
Still, the game’s performance remains impressive considering the leap in technical ambition for a portable device. Digital Foundry summarized their verdict by calling Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Switch 2 “an impossible port that impresses.” This assessment echoes the consensus among both critics and dedicated Nintendo fans, as reflected in recent review scores and positive feedback surrounding Ubisoft’s technical accomplishments.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now via the Nintendo eShop and demonstrates what’s possible on Nintendo’s latest hardware when expert optimization meets strong development talent.
Developed and published by Ubisoft, this ambitious entry brings the signature open-world stealth action of the Assassin’s Creed franchise to Nintendo’s next-generation hybrid hardware.
In a comprehensive technical analysis, Digital Foundry—respected for its in-depth performance reviews—has taken a close look at how Assassin’s Creed Shadows stacks up on the Switch 2 when compared to other platforms such as the Xbox Series S. The evaluation by Digital Foundry begins by establishing a baseline with the Xbox Series S edition, widely regarded as a technically solid version for current-generation consoles.
When compared directly, the Nintendo Switch 2 port exhibits several expected visual compromises.
The Switch 2 foregoes screen space reflections (SSR), resulting in significantly reduced water reflections and movement fidelity.
Additionally, foliage density is noticeably scaled back at mid-range distances, and texture resolutions are lowered to accommodate the device’s hardware limitations.
Ironically, the game’s namesake shadows lack some of the definition seen on the Series S.
These reductions, however, align with the constraints imposed by the Switch 2’s physical storage, as the game's file size is half that of its Xbox counterpart. Despite these visual modifications, Digital Foundry concluded that the Switch 2 version remains "a pretty handsome rendition of the game," crediting Ubisoft with delivering a remarkably faithful port.
The adaptation utilizes DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology to effectively upscale the docked mode's base resolution of 648p, producing an image quality that surpasses expectations for the numbers on paper.
For handheld gameplay, resolutions may dip as low as 400p, but impressive clarity is maintained, with Digital Foundry describing the visuals as "pretty respectable" in action.
They even noted the Switch 2’s portable mode provided more consistent performance than the docked configuration. Performance-wise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 generally achieves its 30fps target during standard gameplay.
However, Digital Foundry observed less optimal frame pacing and minor drops in framerate during particularly demanding scenes or cinematic sequences.
Still, the game’s performance remains impressive considering the leap in technical ambition for a portable device. Digital Foundry summarized their verdict by calling Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Switch 2 “an impossible port that impresses.” This assessment echoes the consensus among both critics and dedicated Nintendo fans, as reflected in recent review scores and positive feedback surrounding Ubisoft’s technical accomplishments.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now via the Nintendo eShop and demonstrates what’s possible on Nintendo’s latest hardware when expert optimization meets strong development talent.
