When Ubisoft announced Star Wars Outlaws was going to come to the Switch 2, many were impressed by the sheer scale of the game being ported to a handheld console. This is a full AAA experience and one of the biggest third-party titles revealed for Nintendo’s new system. From the beginning, it has carried high expectations, but outside of a few short trailers and snippets of gameplay, Ubisoft kept most of it under wraps. That lack of information left some fans nervous, and even in the days leading up to release, there was very little being shown publicly. Concerns grew after a trade show where one attendee suggested the game was in rough shape, and many outlets ran with that story. With that in mind, I spent time with the opening five hours to see how the game actually performs on Switch 2. There are some very minor spoilers ahead, but this is focused on how the game runs in different situations rather than story details. Let’s dive right in.
Across the opening hours, it is clear that Ubisoft has worked hard to balance ambition with performance. The game uses DLSS to keep things running smoothly, which does lead to some noticeable pixellation at times. Lighting has been scaled back compared to what we have seen on more powerful hardware, yet it is still used heavily to set the mood in cutscenes and gameplay. Visually, this is one of the more impressive titles available on Switch 2 so far. Environments are detailed, character models are expressive, and there is a strong sense of scale. Performance holds close to 30 frames per second throughout most encounters, with only minor dips in crowded or effect-heavy scenes. It is also worth noting that this early look does not include the planned day-one patch, which Ubisoft says will address some of the performance issues I experienced.
Populated Areas
The game’s populated zones are where the Switch 2 hardware really gets a workout, and it’s impressive how much is happening at once. NPCs bustle about, traders tend to their marketplaces, and citizens move through streets, creating a real sense of life in the world. Environmental detail is rich, from crowded market stalls to intricately designed architecture that feels lived-in rather than static. Not of the game feels sterile at all, and is a far departure from what we’ve seen in other Star Wars titles.
The opening area of Canto Bight, familiar to fans of The Last Jedi, demonstrates the game’s lighting in full effect. Neon reflections shimmer across concrete floors, streetlights cast long shadows, and even the subtle glow from storefronts adds depth to the scene. Despite all this visual complexity, the game remains locked to a smooth 30 frames per second, making navigation feel fluid and responsive.
Moving to Mirogana, the bustling hub on Toshara’s second planet, the density of activity is even more striking. Crowds of NPCs move through open plazas, while light reflects off walls and awnings, creating an almost cinematic sense of space. This is the only section I have encountered so far with a visible slowdown. In one particularly crowded area, the frame rate dips briefly to around 25 frames per second. It is noticeable but brief, and likely to be addressed with the day-one patch or a near-future update. Even so, the area’s life and vibrancy are not compromised, with every NPC and environmental effect contributing to the feeling of a lived-in world.
Open World Environments
Exploring Toshara on a speeder gives a real sense of the scale and detail Ubisoft has packed into the world. The environment has a lush desert vibe, with patches of grass breaking up the wide red dirt paths. In some areas, the landscape even feels reminiscent of the Australian Outback, with sweeping vistas and scattered rock formations.
Performance is solid, with frames holding steady at 30 fps while cruising at full speed. There is no noticeable stutter or pop-in, even when approaching the township in the distance, which impressively maintains its full detail thanks to excellent draw distance. Shadows stretch naturally across rocks, trees, and dunes, adding depth to an otherwise barren environment, and the lighting continues to set the mood beautifully across this open landscape.
There are also moments that really showcase the game’s visual fidelity. Speeding across water surfaces reveals beautiful, reflective details, and racing through wreckages never causes a drop in performance. Creatures roam certain sections, and NPCs move independently around the player—an interaction that even led to a few awkward collisions on my part. Taken together, this section of Toshara offers some of the best graphics seen on Switch 2 so far, and the game maintains a flawless 30 fps with not a hint of stutter.
Character Models
The main characters are highly detailed, with intricate textures on their faces, clothing, and gear. NPCs, by contrast, tend to look a bit samey after extended play, but the ones you actually interact with stand out with unique features and attention to detail. Moving into photo mode highlights just how much work went into these models. Kay, for example, is visually impressive with finely crafted facial features and clothing textures. There are a few moments, particularly under yellow lighting, where her face can appear a little flat, but that is largely due to the lighting rather than the model itself. Nix, your creature companion, is a standout. He exudes personality and charm, with fur that looks natural and animations that feel fluid and well-implemented. So far, he has been the MVP of my adventure, adding both visual appeal and character to the world in ways that make exploration feel more alive.
Textures
There is one caveat to all of this, and it comes down to textures in certain situations. When moving through tight spaces or tackling the somewhat frustrating hacking mini-games, textures can look a little washed out. Crawling through vents shows the same effect, a subtle reminder of the system constraints at play on Switch 2. While these moments are noticeable, they never detract from the overall immersion. The game still manages to feel cohesive and visually impressive even in these tighter sections.
Closing Thoughts
I’m still early in my adventure, but from what I’ve seen so far, Star Wars Outlaws is a very technically impressive port for the Switch 2. It is not perfect, but it is significantly better than many reports have led us to believe. My full review will be up within the next couple of days, and it will also cover the updated performance in the day one patch. I hope this performance video has helped put some minds at ease. I also want to thank the team at Ubisoft Australia for providing a review copy of the game.
