Cyberpunk 2077 has had an incredible redemption arc since it first released in December 2020. For so long, it was destined to fall into the same category as other failed releases throughout history due to the promises that CD Projekt Red failed to deliver, plus numerous game-breaking bugs. Many believed that it would fall into obscurity like other titles that have disappointed at launch.
Yet, CDPR persevered and continued to release new updates for the open-world RPG shooter. It released several new updates, launched a beloved anime spin-off, and capped it off with an incredible expansion with Phantom Liberty. Now CD Projekt Red has achieved arguably its most impressive feat yet: released Cyberpunk 2077 for the Nintendo Switch 2.
The Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 aims to bring the game’s impressive visuals to a far more accessible platform. It features all of the title’s updates released thus far, plus the aforementioned DLC expansion, alongside several new unique control options exclusive to the console. In theory, this sort of port should be impossible. However, Cyberpunk 2077 for the Nintendo Switch 2 is an incredible re-release that is a true testament to the power of the console.
Adapting Next Generation Visuals for a Hybrid Console
When the port of Cyberpunk 2077 for the Nintendo Switch 2 was first announced, I was admittedly skeptical at the prospect of them adapting the game’s visuals for a console not as powerful as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or most PCs. Sure, the docked version supported 4k, but this version could only go up to 40 FPS, even on performance mode. How would it look? To be honest, I was quite impressed with this version’s performance.
To start with, let’s talk about the handheld version. I fully expected this to be the less technically impressive version with numerous frame drops, visual stutters, and everything in between. These problems were certainly present, and it doesn’t really have the same level of impressive fidelity as other versions. That said, if you compare it to the offerings of other handheld platforms such as the Steam Deck, it’s still great.
I played a lot of Cyberpunk 2077 on the Steam Deck, so I feel uniquely qualified to say that the Nintendo Switch 2 version looks leagues better. There are a lot of modifications I had to make out of the gate to make the Steam Deck version match even a quarter of the PlayStation 5 version’s visuals, whereas the Switch 2 version looks great out of the gate.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a little bit of pop-in and some textures look slightly off, particularly with looking at characters at a distance. For example, one of the first major set pieces of Cyberpunk 2077 takes place in Konpeki Plaza, a lavish hotel with its employees being painted in a golden chrome. At a distance, some of these NPCs look slightly blurred, almost like a mirage.
Plus, a lot of the overworld is limited. You won’t see too many cars and pedestrians in the grand scheme of things. However, all things considered, these problems are sort of meaningless. The key appeal of this version is the fact that you are able to play Cyberpunk 2077 on the go.
Being able to see the scale of Night City come to life on such a small screen is incredible, and while some details were overlooked, some have been rendered beautifully. For instance, I had two playthroughs running: one where I played as the outcasted Nomad coming to Night City looking for a home, and the other where I took control of a former Corpo-Rat who is finally given the opportunity to break her ties to the corrupt and sinister Arasaka.
In the former, you start with a prologue where you navigate through the Badlands, a desert right on the outskirts of Night City. The graphics of the massive sprawling desert are beautiful, and I managed to get some stunning shots despite being in handheld mode. That doesn’t even cover how beautiful Night City looks, especially at night. Handheld mode in Cyberpunk 2077 is impressive, but docked mode, in particular, is where the magic lies.
There are a few shots in the docked version of Cyberpunk 2077 that look borderline indistinguishable from the next-generation console versions. In quality mode in particular, while the frame rate takes a bit of a dip, the visuals are absolutely staggering. Those aforementioned shots in the Badlands, where you can see the sun starting to set, or the neon lights of Night City illuminating the night, all hit exactly the same as they did when the game first came out five years ago.
As far as I’m concerned, CD Projekt Red has created magic. I have no idea how the developers managed to port a game as massive as Cyberpunk with very few compromises, no stuttering, and no crashing with only 64 GB. There are still some glitches (I saw a car fall from the sky at one point), but similarly to the problems with certain textures at a distance, these issues were negligible.
While nobody expected there to be many new additions when it comes to the gameplay of Cyberpunk 2077, there actually managed to be some surprising new options for players. That being said, I’d say these new options were where some of the problems lay with this otherwise impressive port.
Some Flaws in Adaptation
The Nintendo Switch line of systems hasn’t really had a major shooter title that players can really latch onto. The only real exception is Splatoon, but that is a very different kind of game compared to Cyberpunk 2077. How do you make a game designed for mouse and keyboard or a very specific form of controller work on a handheld console or Nintendo’s own brand of Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers? For the most part, I really enjoyed the options that CDPR managed to implement.
For starters, there are gyro controls. I’ve personally never been a fan of gyroscopic controls in games like Splatoon, but I think the use of them here is quite well executed. It will help you to make more precise adjustments to your aim while zooming in on a scope, or you can use it for all of your camera controls. It’s a good option if you’re more used to that style from other games on the original Nintendo Switch.
There are also motion patterns, where you can gesture in a specific way to execute certain commands. This was harder to figure out, mainly due to the fact that it’s locked behind an optional tutorial. It’s a far more situational option for people who want to really add more immersion to the overall experience, but it’s not one that I really found too much enjoyment with.
I think my favorite control style was the touchscreen. It’s very simple: you can tap the map icon on the screen to access the menu, and navigate the menu using the touchpad. It feels nice and isn’t too much of a pain moving your fingers from the joystick to the screen.
Cyberpunk 2077 also supports the Nintendo Switch 2’s mouse controls, and this was by far one of the more impressive options. It takes some getting used to, especially if you’re not too used to that style of gaming, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel natural.
It is kind of frustrating that the button to interact with an object is still relegated to A/B, rather than the SL/SR buttons. As such, it means you have to constantly maneuver your thumb into an uncomfortable position if you want to open a door or select a dialogue option. Overall, though, the moment-to-moment gameplay of Cyberpunk 2077 has been adapted really well to the Switch 2, from the RPG mechanics to driving. All except for one key portion: shooting.
Something about the shooting in Cyberpunk 2077 feels off, especially with the basic controller settings. I have constantly tried to fiddle around with the sensitivity settings, but for the life of me, I cannot find a way to aim consistently well in this version of the game. I’ve tested the console and its controllers on other games that use a similar form of camera, and this is the only one that has had this problem.
As such, a lot of the early encounters are far more frustrating than they have any right to be. There’s one segment where you’re trying to shoot drones from the back of a car, and it was extremely hard to lock onto them, even with gyro controls. It’s hard to say if this is a bug or something I simply need to keep tuning, but it makes a game meant to be played on a more accessible platform far more difficult to get into.
While these issues slightly detracted from the overall experience of Cyberpunk 2077 on the Nintendo Switch 2, this is still an incredible port. I continue to be blown away and shocked at how CDPR managed to pull this off. I can imagine so many more players giving this game a try now that it is on far more accessible hardware, and I can’t wait to see how they interpret this phenomenal game.
The Ultimate Glow-Up
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Cyberpunk 2077 is one of my favorite games ever. Yes, there were obvious problems when it was released that could not be overlooked, but the moment-to-moment gameplay and rich narrative were enough to keep me engaged from beginning to end.
Ever since Phantom Liberty was released, my love of the game has only continued, and I have put almost 1000 hours into this game across multiple platforms. When it was announced for the Switch 2, I knew that I was still going to love it, even in this new format. I am so thrilled to say that I was proven right.
There are a few issues here and there, for sure. Some of the visuals on handheld are subject to pop-in, the limited frame rate is a bit of a bummer, and it’s often really frustrating to navigate the shooting controls in the gameplay. Yet in the grand scheme of things, these issues were irrelevant in comparison to how impressive everything else was. The fact that you can play Cyberpunk on handheld at a level of fidelity I didn’t think was even possible is impressive on its own and is enough to make these issues borderline meaningless.
Further, the fact that they managed to cram in new controller options and adapt such a massive game into a physical cartridge that doesn’t require a game-key makes this a game that is certainly worth the $70 price point. This isn’t even taking into consideration Cyberpunk 2077 itself, which still manages to strike a chord with players due to its beautiful story, charming characters, and heartbreaking themes.
Cyberpunk 2077 for the Nintendo Switch 2 has given me more appreciation for a title that I already adore. I cannot wait to sink in so many more hours as I unravel the many stories of Night City. I highly recommend this for anyone who has a Nintendo Switch 2 and has been looking for the right excuse to give this game a try, because this truly is the ultimate version of this incredible title.
