Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Leverages Switch 2 Power for Enhanced Gameplay

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Makes the Most of Nintendo Switch 2’s Upgraded Hardware As the Nintendo Switch 2 ushers in a new era for Nintendo’s flagship console line, many developers are transitioning their projects to harness its increased capabilities.

One of the most anticipated titles leading this charge is Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the upcoming third entry in Koei Tecmo’s Hyrule Warriors series.

Building on the success of previous titles and acting as a narrative prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Age of Imprisonment is set to deliver not just deeper lore but a vastly improved gameplay experience thanks to the Switch 2 hardware. In an interview with Famitsu published this past weekend, Hyrule Warriors producer Yosuke Hayashi offered insight into the development process and the game’s transition from Nintendo Switch to Switch 2.

Hayashi detailed the challenges and opportunities faced by his team: "Initially, development for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment began on the Nintendo Switch and continued for some time on that platform.

However, mid-development, we transitioned to the Nintendo Switch 2.

As soon as we shifted the assets and gameplay over, we noticed a dramatic improvement in both the number of enemies on-screen and overall frame rate, making the game much more enjoyable to play." This shift is particularly notable for fans who recall the performance issues in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity on the original Switch.

According to Hayashi, the upgraded specs of the Switch 2 have addressed many of these challenges, providing a smoother, more responsive gameplay experience.

"The development on the original Nintendo Switch pushed the hardware to its technical limits.

With the Switch 2, the expanded specs made for a much more comfortable development process, allowing us to fully realize the breadth of gameplay features we envisioned.

The difference in feel is significant," Hayashi explained. The Famitsu interview also delved into Koei Tecmo’s new "AAA Games Studio" division, with Hayashi confirming that multiple high-profile titles are already being developed—many targeting the Switch 2.

This signals a strong commitment from Koei Tecmo to support Nintendo’s evolving hardware ecosystem, ensuring fans can expect even more robust and visually impressive experiences moving forward. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is set not only to deepen the lore of The Legend of Zelda universe—a narrative bridge to Tears of the Kingdom—but also to serve as a showcase for what the Nintendo Switch 2 can deliver.

With smoother frame rates, more on-screen action, and a gameplay experience that exceeds its predecessor, this title stands as a testament to how developers like Koei Tecmo are maximizing new technology to raise the standard for action games on Nintendo platforms. As the Nintendo Switch 2 prepares for launch, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is positioned to be among the early must-play titles, promising fans of both Koei Tecmo and The Legend of Zelda a visually impressive and technically advanced adventure.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Koei Tecmo Switch 2 Switch Hyrule Warriors Hyrule Koei Yosuke Hayashi The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom AAA Games Studio Famitsu