Final Fantasy VII Remake on Nintendo Switch 2: Digital Foundry Reveals Impressive Technical Performance
The much-anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake has made its debut on Nintendo Switch 2, and early technical impressions show that the hybrid console holds its own against other platforms.
Developed by Square Enix, Final Fantasy VII Remake has been lauded for its re-imagining of the legendary RPG, and its transition to Nintendo’s latest hardware marks a significant leap in portable gaming fidelity. Digital Foundry, widely recognized for its in-depth technical analyses, recently examined the newly released demo for Final Fantasy VII Remake on both Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series S.
Their findings highlight some remarkable achievements on Nintendo’s platform, especially when comparing image quality and overall visual output.
While the Switch 2 version does not surpass next-gen editions in raw image quality, it frequently delivers visuals that appear sharper than those on Microsoft’s Series S, despite having a lower internal rendering resolution. According to Digital Foundry's analysis, the docked mode of Final Fantasy VII Remake on Switch 2 renders at a native 1080p, utilizing DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) to upscale the image to approximately 1440p.
This results in a slightly softer presentation on larger TVs, but still places the port above the PlayStation 4 Pro release in terms of visual fidelity.
When played in handheld mode, the game is rendered at 720p and upscaled to 1080p with DLSS—a notable advancement for portable gaming. This Switch 2 version is based on the Intergrade edition developed for PlayStation 5, meaning it benefits from enhanced visual features such as improved textures and volumetric lighting, features that were not present in the PlayStation 4 version.
However, some aspects, like full-motion video (FMV) cutscenes, do show increased compression compared to other platforms.
This may be a result of the demo build or hardware limitations, with Square Enix employing a less robust compression technique for these sequences on Switch 2. A key distinction for the Switch 2 port is its implementation of DLSS, a feature not found in the PC release.
This marks the first time Final Fantasy VII Remake utilizes machine learning upscaling, likely contributing to its cleaner visuals and making it more visually competitive with the Series S, even though Microsoft’s console operates at a higher native resolution. However, the Switch 2 has limitations regarding performance modes.
Unlike the Xbox Series S, which offers a 60 frames-per-second (fps) mode at lower resolution, the Switch 2 version locks gameplay at 30 fps in both docked and handheld modes.
While portable play mostly maintains performance without significant drops, minor slowdowns can occur.
Still, the ability to experience a game of this caliber on the go makes the lower frame rate an acceptable compromise for many players. Overall, Digital Foundry’s assessment underscores the technical prowess achieved with Final Fantasy VII Remake on Nintendo Switch 2.
The Switch 2 delivers a version that is far from being a heavily compromised port—an impressive feat considering the history of bringing high-end titles to Nintendo hardware.
As the demo continues to generate buzz, this release signals a promising future for major third-party games on the platform. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Demo is now available for download on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop.
Developed by Square Enix, Final Fantasy VII Remake has been lauded for its re-imagining of the legendary RPG, and its transition to Nintendo’s latest hardware marks a significant leap in portable gaming fidelity. Digital Foundry, widely recognized for its in-depth technical analyses, recently examined the newly released demo for Final Fantasy VII Remake on both Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series S.
Their findings highlight some remarkable achievements on Nintendo’s platform, especially when comparing image quality and overall visual output.
While the Switch 2 version does not surpass next-gen editions in raw image quality, it frequently delivers visuals that appear sharper than those on Microsoft’s Series S, despite having a lower internal rendering resolution. According to Digital Foundry's analysis, the docked mode of Final Fantasy VII Remake on Switch 2 renders at a native 1080p, utilizing DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) to upscale the image to approximately 1440p.
This results in a slightly softer presentation on larger TVs, but still places the port above the PlayStation 4 Pro release in terms of visual fidelity.
When played in handheld mode, the game is rendered at 720p and upscaled to 1080p with DLSS—a notable advancement for portable gaming. This Switch 2 version is based on the Intergrade edition developed for PlayStation 5, meaning it benefits from enhanced visual features such as improved textures and volumetric lighting, features that were not present in the PlayStation 4 version.
However, some aspects, like full-motion video (FMV) cutscenes, do show increased compression compared to other platforms.
This may be a result of the demo build or hardware limitations, with Square Enix employing a less robust compression technique for these sequences on Switch 2. A key distinction for the Switch 2 port is its implementation of DLSS, a feature not found in the PC release.
This marks the first time Final Fantasy VII Remake utilizes machine learning upscaling, likely contributing to its cleaner visuals and making it more visually competitive with the Series S, even though Microsoft’s console operates at a higher native resolution. However, the Switch 2 has limitations regarding performance modes.
Unlike the Xbox Series S, which offers a 60 frames-per-second (fps) mode at lower resolution, the Switch 2 version locks gameplay at 30 fps in both docked and handheld modes.
While portable play mostly maintains performance without significant drops, minor slowdowns can occur.
Still, the ability to experience a game of this caliber on the go makes the lower frame rate an acceptable compromise for many players. Overall, Digital Foundry’s assessment underscores the technical prowess achieved with Final Fantasy VII Remake on Nintendo Switch 2.
The Switch 2 delivers a version that is far from being a heavily compromised port—an impressive feat considering the history of bringing high-end titles to Nintendo hardware.
As the demo continues to generate buzz, this release signals a promising future for major third-party games on the platform. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Demo is now available for download on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop.
