Switch 2 Port Delivers A Sharper Look For A Demanding Classic

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is shaping up to be one of the more surprising third-party releases on Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2. Early impressions from a newly released demo suggest the game runs more smoothly than expected on the hybrid system, with visual advantages that place it ahead of some current-generation console versions in specific areas.

Since its announcement, the Switch 2 has been positioned as a platform willing to take on demanding ports. High-profile projects such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Sonic x Shadow Generations signaled that intent, though not every effort has gone smoothly. Borderlands 4 and Elden Ring were both delayed after struggling to meet performance targets, reinforcing concerns that technically dense games would hit a ceiling on handheld hardware. Final Fantasy 7 Remake, with its heavy use of lighting effects, detailed environments, and cinematic presentation, seemed like a likely candidate to suffer similar compromises.

That concern has eased following hands-on testing. Square Enix released a demo of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on Switch 2 earlier this week, giving players and analysts a clear look at how the game performs. A detailed technical comparison by Digital Foundry examined the Switch 2 version alongside PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S builds, uncovering differences that were not immediately obvious.

The most notable finding was image stability. The Switch 2 version makes use of DLSS upscaling, which significantly reduces shimmering and image breakup. These artifacts were present in the PlayStation 5 release, particularly in scenes with fine geometry and moving detail. On Switch 2, those issues are largely absent, resulting in a cleaner and more consistent image despite the system’s lower raw power. In motion, this stability can give the impression of a sharper presentation.

Image: Digital Foundry/YouTube

The comparison extended beyond Sony’s platform. Digital Foundry also noted that the Xbox Series S version appears less sharp than the docked Switch 2 output. While the Series S targets higher resolutions in some scenarios, the combination of reconstruction techniques and scaling on Switch 2 appears to produce a more coherent final image in several tested scenes. This places Nintendo’s hardware in an unexpected position, competing favorably with a dedicated home console on visual clarity.

Performance remains the primary compromise. The Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is locked to 30 frames per second in both handheld and docked modes. There are no performance options to raise the frame rate, unlike on PC or with certain adjustments on devices such as the Steam Deck. For a handheld-focused system, this limitation aligns with expectations, but it will still matter to players sensitive to frame pacing, especially in combat encounters that benefit from smoother motion.

Even with that cap, the overall impression points to a strong and carefully tuned port. Load times, asset streaming, and general responsiveness appear stable in the demo, suggesting that Square Enix prioritized consistency over pushing technical extremes. The result is a version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake that may not match the PlayStation 5 in raw throughput, but compensates with cleaner reconstruction and fewer visual distractions.

As third-party support becomes a defining factor for the Switch 2, this release stands as a meaningful test case. If the full game maintains the same level of polish shown in the demo, Final Fantasy 7 Remake could serve as proof that visually complex modern titles can translate effectively to Nintendo’s next system, sometimes with unexpected advantages.