Switch 2 specs allow Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment battles to be larger with higher frame rates

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity brought the series' trademark massive battles to the Switch. Unfortunately, the high enemy count and level of detail led to frequent frame rate drops. In a new Nintendo Creator's Voice video, the Koei Tecmo GM joined a producer to discuss Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Improved Switch 2 specs should result in larger battles without performance hitches.

Announced at the June 5th Nintendo Direct, Age of Imprisonment is a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The Imprisoning War against the evil warlock Ganondorf is the game's focus. Players will encounter Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and other playable Zelda characters. The four masked sages from the most recent Zelda game will also appear in Hyrule. Many details remain unclear, but the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment release date is sometime in Winter 2025.

Hyrule Warriors games feature similar combat mechanics to the hack-and-slash Dynasty Warriors series. Players contend with endless swarms of enemies trying to cut pathways to boss encounters. With Age of Calamity, the blistering action sometimes slowed to a crawl as frame rates dropped below 30 fps. Producer Ryota Matsushita and AAA Games Studio Head Yosuke Hayashi suggest that boosted Switch 2 specs may address these issues. The handheld uses a more powerful Nvidia T239 chip with higher capacity and faster RAM.

Some teaser footage shared during the video seemed locked at 30 fps, while other segments are smoother. That raises the possibility of performance/quality mode options depending on preferences. In addition to more fluid gameplay, Koei Tecmo stressed the strategic aspects of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Players can combine items and decide which Zelda characters to partner with to achieve victory.