Pokémon Scarlet and Violet run at 60fps on Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be released tomorrow, and with it comes a host of updates, both free and paid, for Nintendo Switch games. Among those are Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the most recent games in the Pokémon series, and it looks like developer Game Freak has gone all out with the updates.

A number of press previews for the Switch 2 updated version of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet went live overnight, and the game is looking and running significantly better than it did on the Nintendo Switch. Preview footage for the update shows the game running above 1080p, up from a dynamic 1080p on Switch 1, at a locked 60fps, more than double what was possible with the game on the Switch.

Fans have also noticed that the spawn distance and number of spawns available on screen has significantly increased, with some saying the number is as high as 30, up from a hard limit of 16 on Switch.

The news has come as a shock to fans who were expecting more modest upgrades from Game Freak. Many were expecting the update to lock the resolution to 1080p – it previously typically hovered at around 900p when docked – and a stable 30fps. The game on Switch had well-documented performance problems, including frequent frame drops below its 30fps target.

The performance issues for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were immediately noticed at launch, with fans outraged by the state of the game. In addition to performance issues, the games frequently suffered from bugs and glitches, and Nintendo, the game’s publisher, had to apologise for the state it launched in.

Now, it looks like Game Freak has made good on the game, finally delivering acceptable performance and a much higher resolution. Those performance and visual enhancements will also be present on Switch 2 in the next game in the series, Pokémon Legends Z-A, which is set to be released late this year on Switch and Switch 2.