Lumen and Nanite Didn't Make the Cut: Analysis Reveals Switch 2's True Capabilities with Unreal Engine 5

Digital Foundry has published a deep dive into how the Nintendo Switch 2 handles games built on Unreal Engine 5. Their findings paint a clear picture of the hybrid system's capabilities and limitations when dealing with modern graphical tech. The analysis focused on three titles: Cronos: The New Dawn, Fortnite, and Split Fiction, each demonstrating a different approach to adapting for Nintendo's hardware.

Cronos: The New Dawn, which uses key UE5 features like Lumen global illumination and Nanite virtual geometry on PC, runs on the Switch 2 with settings closer to a PC's lowest preset. The advanced lighting tech is absent on the console, with simplified shadows and geometry, and objects can pop in right in front of the player. Despite these cuts, the game manages a stable 30 frames per second, which is respectable for portable play.

The developers of Fortnite took the path of maximum optimization for the Switch 2 version. The game delivers a solid 60 FPS and even runs at a higher resolution than on the Xbox Series S. However, this performance is achieved by stripping out all the distinctive UE5 features. Visually, it more closely resembles a UE4 game, but it still looks good and, most importantly, it runs well.

Split Fiction doesn't fully utilize the engine's capabilities even on flagship consoles, so the visual gap between the Xbox Series S and Switch 2 versions is minimal. The main compromises for the hybrid system are a 30 FPS cap and simplified shadows and effects in cutscenes.

The overall conclusion from Digital Foundry is that the Switch 2, in its current state, isn't capable of unlocking the full potential of Unreal Engine 5. The console simply lacks the computational power. Instead, developers are opting for a strategy of targeted optimization, sacrificing cutting-edge technologies for a stable frame rate — a critical consideration, especially in portable mode. Switch 2 owners can expect ports of modern games, but their visual execution will be significantly scaled back compared to other platforms.