Oblivion Remastered Switch 2 performance struggles in pre release date video leak

Footage of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Switch 2 port has leaked ahead of its August 11th release date. Unfortunately, it may justify concerns about lackluster performance on Nintendo’s console. A YouTuber who already has a physical copy confirmed frequent frame rate dips in a new video.

Oblivion Remastered on a Nintendo handheld

Scarlet works obtained the Switch 2 game early, which is cartridge-based and doesn’t require a day-one patch. He classifies the visuals as mixed, encountering the problems that hinder the Bethesda title on Xbox, PS5, and PC. Despite several updates, many of the issues remain today.

The longer video demonstrates performance in docked mode, starting in the Imperial Prison. Developers aim for 1080p at 30 fps, but frame rates occasionally fall below that mark. More troubling is inconsistent frame pacing that leads to visible choppiness.

As on other platforms, the situation worsened once escaping to Cyrodiil. The stutters become more noticeable when exploring the open-world environments. On the positive side, the graphics are reasonably sharp and avoid excessive blurriness.

In a separate post, scarlet works briefly tried the Oblivion Remastered Switch 2 version in handheld mode. The resolution takes a slight hit at 900p, and the target is again 30 fps. The gamer didn’t find the experience much different than when connected to a flat screen. Still, there was a particularly long pause as he approached the denser city area.

Fundamentally flawed?

The developers endeavored to optimize The Elder Scrolls classic for the Nintendo console. DLSS upscaling helped Bethesda releases like Fallout 4, but may not be enough to address the shortcomings of this remaster. It’s often CPU-heavy, and critics question the choice to blend Unreal Engine 5 with older code.

Steam Deck owners have dealt with the same performance drawbacks. Yet, Oblivion Remastered on the Switch 2 introduces changes that will likely be better received on its release date. Scarlet works discovered that mouse mode and motion controls were responsive and improved combat.