Assassin’s Creed Shadows Arrives on Switch 2 Next Week wiht Technical Deep Dive
Nintendo Switch 2 players will be able to experience Assassin’s Creed Shadows starting next Tuesday, December 2nd. Ahead of the launch, Ubisoft has detailed the technical adjustments made to bring the game to Nintendo’s platform, alongside exclusive features for the console.
Originally released in March for other platforms following delays, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set in 16th century feudal Japan adn features dual protagonists Yasuke and Fujibayashi Naoe. Eurogamer previously reviewed the game, calling it “majestic in scope, impressive in detail” and awarding it four stars.
The Switch 2 version will include all updates released for Assassin’s Creed Shadows to date, excluding the Claws of Awaji expansion, planned for release in 2026. Ubisoft confirms future updates will align with other platforms,with ongoing console-specific optimizations planned,including patches and eventual keyboard and mouse compatibility in docked mode.
Ubisoft is targeting a stable 30fps performance in both docked and handheld modes, achieved through “a lot of code-level work… to optimise and adapt the game architecture.” This involved streamlining technical aspects “without compromising the player’s experience or the richness of the game.”
To maintain performance, the switch 2 version forgoes ray-traced global illumination in favor of baked global illumination “mainly for RAM memory reasons.” Level of detail,draw distances,texture resolution,and element loading have also been adjusted. Ubisoft notes a reduction in NPC density in populated areas to “ensure smooth gameplay,” while maintaining environmental richness. The game also utilizes DLSS for smoother performance.
Handheld mode includes adjustments to image quality, draw distance, and LOD settings to accommodate GPU limitations, but features variable refresh rates and HDR support.
Switch 2-specific features include touch screen navigation for maps and menus, and cross-progression support via Ubisoft Connect, allowing players to seamlessly continue their progress across platforms.
