Is Skyrim Finally Fixed on Switch 2? Patch 1.2 Tested
If you are a regular reader, you will know that I absolutely love Skyrim. It is a game I have played since the day it was first released, and I will probably be playing it for the rest of my life. You will also know that the Switch 2 version launched in a rough state. Even after the first post-launch update, it scored a 76 out of 100. That is a respectable score, but Skyrim should have scored much higher. Today, much to this Dragonborn’s delight, Bethesda has dropped a brand new patch. It delivers a long list of fixes, along with a 60 frames per second mode. Let’s take a look at what has changed.
So what’s in the box? The latest patch for Skyrim on Switch 2, brings a host of fixes, but the main highlight for this video is the new 60 frames per second mode. Under Display settings, players can now toggle between “Prioritise Visuals,” which locks the frame rate at 30 frames per second for smoother gameplay, or “Prioritise Performance,” which targets a higher 60 FPS. This gives players a real choice between detailed visuals and smoother motion. Beyond the frame rate options, Bethesda has fixed a bunch of crashes that were affecting certain quests, spells, and menu actions. Performance has also been improved in areas that used to cause noticeable slowdowns, like combat encounters and specific locations across Skyrim. On the visual side, issues like water shifting strangely have been fixed, which was very noticeable on launch. The patch also tidies up the user interface and controls, making switching between mouse and controller modes more reliable, fixing missing prompts, and smoothing out controller inputs and button responsiveness for Joy-Con 2 users.
While all of these fixes are welcome and make the game more stable, this video will mostly focus on how the new 30 and 60 FPS modes affect the look and feel of Skyrim. We’ll compare both modes side by side, examine any differences in visuals, and see whether the higher frame rate actually makes gameplay feel smoother or more immersive. Things weren’t looking promising, however, as the game crashed to the home screen within two minutes of loading my save in Visual Mode.
Let’s talk framerate right away, because that’s what most people are here to see. In the image below, we have Whiterun running in both Performance and Visual Modes. In Visual Mode, the game still shows some frame pacing issues, particularly around the Eldergleam Tree. It seems to struggle when processing shadows and smoke shaders, especially in built-up areas. The good news is that I didn’t really notice any input lag, which was still a problem in some parts of the game after the original post-launch patch.
Outside of Whiterun, framerates and frame pacing are very consistent. There are essentially no stutters or dips, although Performance Mode does occasionally hitch, maybe skipping a frame or two, but it never gets in the way of gameplay.
Performance Mode is still a visual treat, but if you look closely, you can see where the compromises are. During a Riverwood walkthrough, for example, Visual Mode keeps shadows and assets loading at a greater distance, which reduces noticeable pop-in and produces softer, more detailed shadows, including in smoke and mist. The cobblestone paths also have a darker, richer texture, which is mostly lost in Performance Mode.
As we leave town, the difference becomes more noticeable. In Performance Mode, tree detail pops in much closer, shadows appear slightly less defined, and overall render distance is reduced. None of this breaks the game or the immersion, but it is clear where the trade-offs for higher framerate are made.
Another huge fix is the water, finally! It used to jump up and down, which really broke immersion, but that’s all sorted now.
The real winner of this update is the players. By giving us a choice between Performance and Visuals modes, Skyrim on Switch 2 can now be tailored to the way we want to experience it. It’s something I wish more Switch 2 games would incorporate. We’ve recently seen Subnautica adopt a variable framerate, and Hitman debuted on the console with something similar. Thankfully, Hitman eventually added an option to lock it down, and here’s hoping we see the same for Subnautica.
For now, Skyrim is finally becoming the amazing game I’ve always loved… just on Switch 2. While there are still a few small issues, I know I’ll be playing it a lot more thanks to this post-launch support. Fingers crossed that future releases like the Oblivion remaster and Fallout 4 continue to offer similar options, as Switch 2 development and optimisation keep improving.
