You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here After years of leaks, Nintendo has properly unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 with heaps of specs and new games as well as features such as the Discord-like GameChat. While seeing a slew of games for the new Nintendo console was fantastic, what’s more interesting is what actual developers think of the new hardware. While the original Switch was praised for being easy to develop for, it’s lack of power made it a hard system for new AAA games to release on. While games like DOOM Eternal and Wolfenstein 2 would release on the system in the form of so-called miracle ports, they were always substantially worse experiences than on another console. With games like the next-gen only Star Wars Outlaws, Cyberpunk 2077 and the true version of Hogwarts Legacy coming to the handheld, it’s clear that the Switch 2 is a powerhouse handheld. But how easy is it to work with the new system? Nintendo Switch 2 is “easy” to work with Speaking to veteran games journalist Stephen Totillo at Game File (paywalled), numerous Nintendo Switch 2 developers explained that it’s incredibly easy to work with the new system. Just like the original Switch, the tools that Nintendo has developed for the new system are powerful, efficient and easy to work with. Civilization 7 executive producer Dennis Shirk explained that the new handheld is “like a mid-tier PC” in a miniscule form factor with the producer saying “it’s got enough power” for modern games. As for actually creating games for the system, Shirk explained that Nintendo has been a great company to work with. “They made it easy,” the developer said. “Their [software development kit] is great, the customer support, their developer support, developer relations is great.” This sentiment was echoed by Hogwarts Legacy head of technology Rob Nelson. While the current Switch has a version of the game, it’s heavily compromised with large loading zones and massive visual cutbacks, the new Switch 2 version is the same as PS5 and Xbox Series albeit on the go and quite attractive looking. “In Hogsmeade we had a hard load before,” the developer said. “Now we’re able to remove that hard load. You get in and out of shops quickly… I would say it was comparable to working on the Switch. It wasn’t overly challenging. Nintendo collaborated with us. It was always forward momentum. We had a good development cycle.” As someone who has attempted to play Star Wars Outlaws on Steam Deck, this Switch 2 footage looks like a miracle occuring in front of me As a new device in the handheld space, the Nintendo Switch 2 has been frequently compared to the Steam Deck as of late. While Valve’s awesome little handheld can play games such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the new Switch is more powerful, smaller, lighter and has a higher resolution screen with a faster refresh rate. Hades II developer Greg Kasavin also touched on the new device, revealing that the new version of the game runs “at a target 60fps” on both Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2. While the Nintendo Switch 2 may end up proving to be a better experience due to its higher resolution, it’s clear that developers will still be targeting Steam Deck for some releases. As expected, the Nintendo Switch 2 is powerful, very much so. As Nintendo’s only platform going forward, it’s obvious that the Japanese console giant has gone all out on cramming as much power into the handheld as it possibly can. Nintendo Switch 2 is easily running games that bring the Steam Deck to its knees with ports like Cyberpunk 2077 looking far and above the Deck versions just seven weeks into development. With the system able to utilise DLSS image reconstruction instead of FSR as well as add in ray-tracing, it’s going to be a very interesting generation. Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share