Subnautica Switch 2 Graphics Comparison
In what has already been a huge month for Nintendo Switch 2 owners, the surprise upgrade of both Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero has been a very welcome one. Now that my review is out of the way, awarding Subnautica on Switch 2 an impressive 80 out of 100, it is clear this is far more than a simple resolution bump. This is a substantial upgrade built to take advantage of the Switch 2’s added horsepower. I love a good graphics comparison, so this breakdown will focus solely on the original Subnautica, with side-by-side comparisons between the original Nintendo Switch release and the new Switch 2 version running on their respective hardware. From resolution and lighting to frame rate stability, we are diving deep into what has changed. Let’s take a look!
Originally released on Nintendo Switch in May 2021, Subnautica was already something of a technical achievement. Bringing its vast, seamless alien ocean to a hybrid console was no small task. Despite the inevitable compromises in resolution and frame rate, the port retained the full experience, complete with unique biomes, base building, and that unmistakable sense of isolation beneath the waves. For its time, it was a surprisingly great port of a very demanding game. Now, the Switch 2 version is here, offering improved resolution, upgraded visual fidelity, smoother performance, and even mouse mode support. Better still, it arrives as a free upgrade for owners of the original release.
Here in the intro sequence, we see some very subtle differences. The metallic surfaces on the Switch 2 version appear to have more reflection and detail, but only if you are really looking for it. This opening moment does not immediately show a dramatic leap between versions. We can see increased texture detail here on the floor, showing off a hex pattern barely visible on the Switch 1. When the player is struck by the metal debris, the chip in the visor clearly shows the resolution difference, with sharper fracture lines on Switch 2. The flames inside the escape pod also benefit from the increased clarity, with more defined detail compared to the softer presentation on the original Switch.
The differences become far more noticeable once you step outside the escape pod. Visual fidelity is vastly improved on the Switch 2 version, and much of that appears to come down to lighting and shadows. Above the pod, light reflects off the tips of the waves, giving the ocean surface greater depth and dimension. It is a subtle effect, but it adds realism immediately. Once we dive beneath the water, the improvements become even clearer. Underwater lighting and shadow work make the Switch 2 upgrade look impressive. The seabed shows increased detail and environmental density, particularly in the form of additional underwater flora, seaweed, and additional objects scattered across the terrain. Texture detail and bump mapping give rock formations more definition, helping them appear less flat than on the original Switch release.
As we enter the Kelp Forest biome, the difference is striking. The addition of sun shafts filtering through the water, an effect largely absent on the original Switch version, dramatically changes the atmosphere. Combined with the increased environmental density, the Kelp Forest feels far more alive. On the original Switch, we can see environmental geometry failing to load at longer distances, along with noticeable level of detail pop in. While some level of detail transition can still be seen on kelp in the Switch 2 version, it is far less noticeable unless you are moving at speed. Diving deeper into the forest floor once again highlights the improved shadow quality, reinforcing the overall boost in visual fidelity.
A quick note on level of detail pop-in: this was a common issue on the original Switch port, one of the compromises necessary to get the game running smoothly on the hardware. On Switch 2, there were only one or two brief moments where something loaded in noticeably, and even then, it was far less obvious than what you can see in the Switch 1 footage.
Now we get to the part everyone loves… frame rates! The original Switch version struggled with stutter in certain areas, which could make navigation tricky or cause pop-in to feel more jarring. Despite that, it generally managed to maintain its baseline 30 fps. The Switch 2 version runs at a variable frame rate capped at 60 fps. Most of the time it sits around 45 fps, but with all the additional visual detail, we do see it fluctuate between 30 and 60 fps. These changes are noticeable during gameplay, particularly in dense areas like the Kelp Forest, but overall, the experience feels smoother and more responsive than the original Switch release.
Finally, let’s finish with some side-by-side footage of the Island area. Here, the improvements in lighting and shadow really stand out, giving the environment a greater sense of depth and realism. The increased view distance is also noticeable, but it’s the way the lighting interacts with the terrain that makes the Switch 2 version look significantly better overall.
And that’s me signing off. I hope you enjoyed this video. It’s been a while since I did a graphics comparison, so I hope it was entertaining. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out my full Subnautica Switch 2 review, which also went live today. If you enjoy my content, it really helps me out to like, subscribe, and, if I can push my luck, leave a comment as well. Happy diving!
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