Star Wars Outlaws on Nintendo Switch 2: Digital Foundry Analysis Reveals Solid Performance and Visual Adjustments

Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft's highly anticipated addition to the action-adventure saga, is making waves on Nintendo Switch 2 following the release of a detailed technical analysis by renowned experts at Digital Foundry.

As one of the first major AAA titles to debut on the next generation of Nintendo hardware, the performance and fidelity of Star Wars Outlaws has drawn significant attention from both industry professionals and gamers.

Ubisoft, known for their ambitious cross-platform development, has managed a strong port that balances the strengths and limitations of Nintendo's new system. Digital Foundry's latest analysis delves into several key aspects of the Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 release, focusing on frame rate, resolution, graphic effects, and asset optimization.

According to the findings, Ubisoft has successfully preserved the core gameplay experience, even as they implemented necessary graphical adjustments to support the Switch 2's hardware specifications. Notably, ray tracing effects remain present on the Switch 2 version—a technical achievement that maintains parity with versions on other platforms.

However, as expected from a more compact and portable console, some visual compromises have been made.

Lighting on the Switch 2 occasionally appears coarser or darker, sometimes missing the subtlety seen on higher-end systems.

Still, in several areas, the Switch 2's lighting holds up to the Xbox Series S, and there are instances where the Nintendo system even offers superior visual effects. Resolution adjustments are key to sustaining performance.

Star Wars Outlaws targets a standard 720p rendering when docked, with output resolution reaching up to 1440p through the use of DLSS and dynamic resolution scaling (DRS).

In handheld mode, the game renders at 540p but upscales to 1080p via DLSS technology, ensuring visuals remain sharp on the device's smaller screen.

Despite these modifications, the frame rate remains consistently at 30 frames per second, offering stable gameplay with no significant frame pacing issues.

Some menus reportedly run at 60 FPS to enhance navigation responsiveness, while minor frame drops may occur during certain cutscenes. Asset optimization is apparent throughout this port; Star Wars Outlaws on Nintendo Switch 2 is a compact 20GB download—about a third of the size compared to other console versions.

Foliage and grass density have been scaled back, shadows are generally softer and less defined, and volumetric fog is limited, though volumetric clouds retain their impressive quality.

Additionally, draw distance in handheld mode is slightly reduced, contributing to performance stability on the go. These adaptations showcase Ubisoft's commitment to bringing a premier experience to Nintendo's audience while respecting the distinct capabilities of the Switch 2.

Digital Foundry's analysis praises the technical achievement, stating that while cutbacks are visible, the fundamental gameplay integrity of Star Wars Outlaws remains intact on the new platform. Star Wars Outlaws is now available worldwide on Nintendo Switch 2 and other major consoles.

The game can be found on the Nintendo eShop, and further insights into Ubisoft's decision to utilize a game-key card instead of a full physical cartridge are available on their official channels.

For a comprehensive technical review, viewers can watch Digital Foundry's detailed breakdown for a closer look at resolution, frame rate, and more.

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