The Nintendo Switch 2 may not surpass the prowess of the Xbox Series S but its capabilities are comparable enough that the differences might not significantly hinder the porting of well-optimized games, according to insights from a senior executive at Virtuos. However, the process of adapting titles from Series S to the Switch 2 will depend on each specific case.
Founded in Singapore in 2004, Virtuos Ltd. is a major player in the game development industry with over 4,200 employees by 2025. The company is recognized mainly for porting existing games to new platforms and has successfully completed many projects, including the praised remaster of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. One of its subsidiaries, Irish studio Black Shamrock, known for titles like Destroy All Humans and Marvel Midnight Suns, was acquired by Virtuos in February 2017.
A Smooth Transition for Many Xbox Series S Titles
Black Shamrock’s Technical Director Eoin O’Grady recently discussed various facets of the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware with Wccftech. When comparing the Switch 2 to the Xbox Series S, he stated that its GPU performance is “slightly below” that of Microsoft’s console, while it lags behind on the CPU side. However, the Switch 2 can leverage features like DLSS to compensate for some graphical performance deficits, which is not available on the Series S.
Given that most modern games are more GPU-bound rather than constrained by CPU performance, O’Grady is optimistic about the Switch 2’s ability to handle a broad array of current and future Series S titles. He asserted that any game operating at 60fps on the Series S should have no problem transitioning to the Switch 2. Additionally, titles that achieve around 30 frames per second on the Series S, and are not heavily reliant on the CPU, should also port easily.
Though the Switch 2 demonstrates sufficient strength for many contemporary game ports, uncertainties remain regarding the influx of third-party titles shortly after launch. Access to Switch 2 development kits has been limited; only a handful of developers received them before the console’s projected launch in early June 2025. Consequently, several Switch 2 adaptations have only just commenced development.
