Wild Hearts S: Koei Tecmo Producer Compares Nintendo Switch 2 Power to Xbox Series S

Koei Tecmo's Monster-Hunting Epic 'Wild Hearts S' Sets Sights on Nintendo Switch 2: Producer Says Power Rivals Xbox Series S Wild Hearts S, developed by Koei Tecmo, is set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 25, 2025, marking another milestone for the platform’s continually expanding library of high-profile releases.

First launched in February 2023 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, Wild Hearts S is an ambitious hunting action title developed in partnership with Omega Force.

Its arrival on Switch 2 is generating significant attention—not just for the game itself, but for what it indicates about Nintendo’s latest hardware. In a recent interview with WCCFTech, Takuto Edagawa, producer at Koei Tecmo, provided rare insights into the technical prowess of the Nintendo Switch 2 as experienced during the porting of Wild Hearts S.

According to Edagawa, "While there are many aspects to consider when it comes to pure computing power, I believe the Switch 2 is closer in capability to the Xbox Series S than the PlayStation 4." Edagawa did not expand in detail on what specific benchmarks led to this assessment.

However, having worked on bringing Wild Hearts S to the new Nintendo console, he pointed to the system’s ability to efficiently run the game as a key factor. Despite support for advanced features like NVIDIA’s DLSS super resolution, Wild Hearts S on the Switch 2 will not utilize such upscaling technology—a testament to the new console’s native performance.

Edagawa explained that performance and graphical fidelity adjustments during development "were managed within our intended parameters." He emphasized the device's impressive display: "Especially when playing in portable mode, the high-quality LCD makes graphics appear even smoother and more precise than the specifications might suggest.

This visual fidelity proved especially valuable during development." Wild Hearts S also brings additional gameplay improvements to the Switch 2 version.

Notably, multiplayer support expands from three to four simultaneous players, leveraging the platform's capabilities.

This upgrade created a distinct challenge, as the game's detailed character creator required optimization to maintain performance levels for all players involved. The Switch 2’s new Game Chat feature also drew praise from Edagawa.

He observed, "While it's common for dedicated gamers to use third-party communication tools like Discord during play, integrating this function at the system level enables more users to participate.

It may sound bold, but this could influence gaming culture as a whole." At launch, Wild Hearts S on Nintendo Switch 2 will not support crossplay with other platforms.

However, the game continues to offer full crossplay between PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The Switch 2 release broadens the reach of Koei Tecmo's action title to Nintendo's fastest-selling console in the UK, which impressively moved 3.5 million units in its first four days according to official UK sales data. With a growing first-party and third-party lineup, system updates such as Splatoon 3 version 10.0.0, and continual improvements to the eShop and online features, the Nintendo Switch 2 cements its position as a key player in the current-generation console landscape.

Wild Hearts S's arrival is poised to showcase the hardware's capabilities and provide Switch 2 owners with another reason to hunt for glory.

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