Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Ubisoft’s latest big open-world RPG, makes the long-rumored leap to Switch 2 this week, and footage of the game running on Nintendo’s console looks as impressive and playable as the publisher’s previous port of Star Wars: Outlaws.
When Assassin’s Creed: Shadows launched earlier this year, I called it one of the best-looking open-world video games of the generation. Ubisoft’s digital recreation of Feudal Japan featured multiple seasons, incredible draw distances, gorgeous lighting, rock-solid performance, and highly detailed environments. So when Ubisoft officially announced the long-rumored Switch 2 port of Shadows was real and launching on December 2, I was nervous. Sure, the publisher pulled off a technical marvel by getting Outlaws to run on Switch 2. But would Shadows work as well on Nintendo’s machine? The answer is yes. Yes, indeed.
Ahead of its Tuesday launch, some folks who have already been playing Shadows on Switch 2 began sharing direct comparisons of the new port with how the game looks on PS5 and Xbox. YouTube channel ElAnalistaDeBits posted a great video comparing all three versions, and perhaps the biggest takeaway is that while Shadows on Switch has, understandably, cut some graphical corners, it’s still remarkable how alike all versions of the game look side-by-side.
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is 30 FPS on Switch 2
Like Star Wars: Outlaws on Switch 2, which impressed us earlier this year, Shadows runs at 30 FPS on Nintendo’s console with no option to play at 60FPS. That’s a shame, but also not surprising. It should also be noted that Shadows on Switch 2 isn’t a rock-solid 30, but pretty dang close. And hey, while it might lack a higher-framerate option, the Switch 2 port of Shadows lets you manipulate the map using the touchscreen, which is handy.
The biggest visual cuts found in Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Switch 2 involve reduced draw distance, a less sharp image, and water reflections. In particular, reflections are completely gone in most places on the Switch 2 port, which can make rivers and lakes look dull and flat. On the flipside, texture quality is good and looks more than fine when playing the game in handheld mode. In fact, a lot of these changes will be much harder to spot when playing on the Switch 2’s screen compared to a big 4K TV.
Star Wars: Outlaws and now Assassin’s Creed Shadows seem to indicate that Ubisoft is taking the Switch 2 very seriously as a platform. The publisher has delivered two of the best-looking and playing open-world games on the console this year, and I imagine past Ubisoft titles will likely be making the leap in the future. And with cross save across all consoles and PC, the Switch 2 might become a very popular way for Ubisoft open world sicko fans, like myself, to enjoy these big games on the go or when traveling.
