Switch 2 GPU is 'slightly below Series S,' says Outer Worlds 2 developer

The Switch 2's GPU power is similar to the Xbox Series S, and this closeness means that developers can theoretically better scale games between the two platforms, one game developer says.

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The Switch 2's new Ampere-based GPU brings 4K gaming to the handheld-console hybrid for the first time, offering a significant performance jump over the aging Tegra X1 used in the original Switch. In terms of raw performance, the Switch 2's GPU is likened to that of the Xbox Series S' GPU, which is good news for developers as games can more easily be scaled between the two platforms despite different SDK environments.

We've heard developers talk about the Switch 2's capabilities and overall versatility, with Koei Tecmo saying that the Switch 2's GPU is closer to a Series S than a PlayStation 4.

Now another developer shares their insights on the Switch 2's graphics capabilities.

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In a recent interview with WCCFTech, game engineer Eoin O' Grady makes this comparison, saying that a game that runs at 60FPS on the Series S should also hit 60FPS on the Switch 2.

O'Grady is an engineer at Black Shamrock, an Irish-based subsidiary of Virtuos, which is one of the biggest game developers on the planet--Virtuos developers the popular Oblivion Remaster, but O'Grady worked on other projects like The Outer Worlds 2.

Check below to see what O'Grady said about the Switch 2's GPU:

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Question (WCCFtech): In terms of raw console performance, do you agree that the Switch 2 is closer to the Xbox Series S than it is to the PlayStation 4, making it easier for developers to port their current-gen games to the hardware?

Answer (Eoin O' Grady, Black Shamrock, Virtuous): GPU-wise, the Switch 2 performs slightly below the Series S; this difference is more noticeable in handheld mode. However, the Series S does not support technologies like DLSS, which the Switch 2 does. This makes the GPU capabilities of the two consoles comparable overall.

CPU-wise, there is a clearer distinction between the two consoles.

The Switch 2 is closer to the PlayStation 4 in this respect, having a CPU just a bit more powerful than the PS4's. Since most games tend to be more GPU-bound than CPU-bound when optimized well, the impact of this difference largely depends on the specific game and its target frame rate.

Any game shipping at 60 FPS on the Series S should easily port to the Switch 2. Likewise, a 30 FPS Series S game that's GPU-bound should also port well.

Games with complex physics, animations, or other CPU-intensive elements might incur additional challenges in reaching 30 or 60 FPS or require extra optimization during porting.