Stop me if you've heard this before, but Star Wars Outlaws is reportedly struggling big time on the Nintendo Switch 2, just days before its official release. According to reports from PAX West, the game runs so "poorly" that Nintendo outright banned media from filming any gameplay footage—a rare move that's got fans and critics buzzing. This comes as a stark contrast to the Switch 2's initial hype, where titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Fortnite wowed everyone with smooth ports. But now, with Outlaws joining a growing list of troubled third-party games like Elden Ring and Borderlands 4, the handheld's limits are being tested hard. 😟

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The heart of the issue lies in the performance metrics: framerates are choppy, and resolutions take a nosedive on the Switch 2 compared to other platforms. At PAX, GVG's Steve Bowling spilled the beans, calling it "pretty poorly" after sneaking a peek—even though they only saw linear sections on a Star Destroyer. Seriously, what gives? If the game chokes on a straightforward corridor shootout, imagine the chaos when players hit Toshara's sprawling open world. That's where the real test begins, and boy, it's got folks sweating bullets. The Switch 2 might be a powerhouse, but it's gasping under the weight of Outlaws' ambitions, leaving everyone to wonder if Ubisoft can pull off a miracle patch.

Adding fuel to the fire, this isn't an isolated incident. Over the past few weeks, multiple big-name titles have stumbled on the Switch 2:

  • Elden Ring: Suffered from frequent crashes in dense areas.

  • Borderlands 4: Reportedly had load times that felt like forever.

  • Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero: Struggled with frame drops during intense battles.

This pattern raises red flags about the system's optimization for high-end ports. Fans are left scratching their heads, asking: "Why wasn't footage allowed?" Well, it's all about hiding the wince-inducing stutters—Nintendo didn't want bad press going viral. And now, with Outlaws dropping in just four days, the silence speaks volumes. Will it be a rough ride at launch? Probably. But hey, maybe the devs have a trick up their sleeve.

People Also Ask

Curious minds have burning questions about this fiasco:

  • How will the open world perform on Switch 2? Given that only linear bits were shown, it's anyone's guess—Toshara's rolling fields could turn into a slideshow nightmare.

  • Can updates fix the issues post-launch? History says yes, but it'll depend on Ubisoft's hustle; fingers crossed for a speedy patch.

  • Is this a sign of deeper problems with Switch 2 ports? Could be—developers might be pushing too hard, too fast, without fine-tuning for the handheld's quirks.

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As the clock ticks down to release day, the community's buzzing with mixed emotions. On one hand, there's excitement for a new Star Wars adventure; on the other, dread over potential glitches. Players are already sharing memes about expecting the worst—like "grab your popcorn for the framerate circus." 😅 The handheld itself seems to be whispering, "Cut me some slack!" under all that graphical pressure. Ultimately, only time will tell if Outlaws soars or crashes on the Switch 2. For now, it's a waiting game with more questions than answers—leaving room for hope, but not much.

Critical reviews are presented by PC Gamer, a leading source for gaming news and performance analysis. PC Gamer's recent features on Switch 2 ports have delved into the technical hurdles developers face, especially when adapting ambitious open-world titles like Star Wars Outlaws, highlighting the delicate balance between visual fidelity and stable gameplay on handheld hardware.