Pragmata Switch 2 performance review shows how frame rates fall short of PS5

Capcom is on a successful streak, publishing several well-received AAA games. It also continues to support Nintendo’s handheld, with the Pragmata Switch 2 release date nearly here. Digital Foundry has put the title through its paces in a performance review. While compromises were inevitable, frame rates dip far below what the PS5 version offers.

Pragmata downgrades on the Switch 2

Image quality in the Pragmata Switch 2 port is comparable to that of the most powerful systems. Nevertheless, lighting and shadows are more barebones than on its PS5 counterpart. Using the PlayStation console’s performance mode for reference, the lack of ambient occlusion makes the alternative seem dull.

Reflections also don’t have the same impact, appearing more grainy. Meanwhile, some characters and objects are less defined, resulting in a more blocky look. In addition, the protagonist Diana doesn’t benefit from Capcom’s strand-based hair system. That becomes obvious, since the camera focuses on the back of the android’s head.

Even with streamlined lighting and textures, DLSS upscaling is a major boost to the handheld. Digital Foundry believes Pragmata is upscaling from 540p to 1080p. Although the final output on the PS5 is 1440p, the Switch 2 game renders the futuristic environments nearly as convincingly.

Sadly, some Nintendo fans could find the frequent frame rate drops distracting. In more complex exterior scenes, readings range from the 30s to the 40s. Only indoors does the Pragmata Switch 2 release improve, reaching closer to 60 fps. The PS5 version is more fluid in performance mode, often achieving that target.

Capcom's resistance to frame rate caps strikes again

Frame rates are worse in the console’s handheld mode, while image clarity also suffers. Still, the performance review blames the lack of an fps cap for many of the shortcomings. Gamers may have preferred to play at 30 fps or 40 fps with VRR active.

Despite an effective DLSS implementation, Digital Foundry determined that the port falls short of expectations. That said, other platforms face their own set of issues. Another analysis by the same site discovered that GPUs with 8GB of VRAM struggle without reducing detail settings.

Readers can find Notebookcheck's impressions of Pragmata in a YouTube short.