Warframe Switch 2 Upgrade Tested: Graphics and Performance Breakdown
Greetings Tenno! Warframe for Switch 2 has finally arrived with a dedicated version for Nintendo’s new hardware. It’s been a while since I last battled on the Plains of Eidolon, so it felt like the perfect time to suit up and test both the Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions side by side to see just how big the differences are. How does the new Switch 2 version stack up? Let’s take a closer look.
What’s New on Switch 2
The Switch 2 version of Warframe brings a lot more than just a bump in resolution. The game now targets a crisp 1080p, up from the original Switch’s 720p, and aims to run at a much smoother 60 frames per second compared to the previous 30. That alone makes a big difference in movement and combat fluidity. On top of that, the new version supports DLSS, which helps maintain clarity even when the action gets intense.
Graphics improvements extend beyond resolution and frame rate. Lighting feels richer thanks to volumetric effects, and shadows look far more realistic, giving the open world a sense of depth it previously lacked. Enhanced resolution textures make the environment feel more detailed, from the surfaces of the plains to the intricate designs on your Warframe. Shader quality has also been upgraded across both docked and handheld play, which helps abilities, weapons, and enemy models pop. Loading times are noticeably faster, letting you get into missions and the open world with less downtime. Audio has been improved too, and for those who like alternative control setups, the game now supports Joy-Con 2 mouse input, adding another layer of precision for combat if you prefer PC style controls.
Framerate – Plains of Eidolon Test
Let’s start right off the bat with the framerate. For this test, I ran across the open world area of the Plains of Eidolon, which used to feel a bit stuttery when it first launched and was roughly the last time I played.
The difference is immediately noticeable. The Switch 2 version not only hits its 60 FPS target much more consistently, but the smoother performance also makes the world feel more alive, a benefit that goes hand in hand with the visual improvements, which we will dive into later.
That said, the Switch 1 version is still impressively optimised. For Tenno who are sticking with the original hardware, it mostly maintains its 30 FPS target at 720p, keeping the experience playable even in the larger, more demanding open world areas.
Visual Upgrade
Removing the frame counters and switching to full-screen footage, the graphical upgrade becomes instantly noticeable. The lighting on the Switch 2 version brings the open plains to life, and looking out toward the rock formations in the distance, you can see light properly casting across them, helping to highlight the improved render distance.
Back on the original Switch tells a different story. The render distance is much shorter, with detail dropping off much closer to the player. To its credit, the game makes clever use of motion blur and level of detail scaling to maintain a more consistent frame rate, even if it comes at the cost of visual clarity.
Back on Switch 2, smaller details begin to stand out. Reflective surfaces on the Warframe itself are more noticeable, while trees and distant objects benefit from improved shadow detail. There also appears to be a significant increase in ground clutter, or at the very least, less aggressive pop-in, which helps the world feel more complete as you move through it.
Putting both versions side by side makes the differences even clearer. Texture quality and overall level of detail see a noticeable improvement on Switch 2, supported by stronger shadows thanks ot that volumetric lighting.
Lighting – Fortuna
Fortuna is the perfect place to show off the volumetric lighting on the Switch 2 version, with the city bathed in its signature neon glow. Running both versions side by side, the differences are very noticeable.
On the original Switch, lighting tends to rely more on flatter textures, while the Switch 2 introduces more reflective surfaces and a much stronger glow from the purple neon that fills the space. It gives the entire area a richer and more atmospheric feel.
In closer scenes, like the soldier leaning while talking to others, the improvements become even clearer. The Switch 2 version shows softer, warmer lighting with more depth in the shadows, creating a smoother and more natural look. On Switch 1, the shading is a bit harsher by comparison. It still looks good, but the newer version feels far more refined overall.
Resolution, Clarity and Combat
When it comes to resolution and DLSS upscaling, there is a clear difference in visual quality, and it has a big impact on how the game feels in motion. On the original Switch, while the game does a solid job of maintaining its frame rate, it often leans heavily on blur to keep up with the action. This can make combat feel a bit messy at times, especially during more intense encounters where it is easy to lose track of what is happening on screen.
On Switch 2, the experience is much cleaner. The image stays crisp even during fast movement, and that added clarity, combined with the smoother performance, makes a real difference. Sliding, shooting, and melee actions all feel more responsive and easier to follow… unless you are a bit rusty like I was.
There is also a noticeable increase in effect density. Explosions, abilities, and particle effects feel more detailed on the Switch 2 version of Warframe. Combined with the improved sharpness, it makes the combat in Warframe much easier to handle.
Warframe on Switch 2 is a massive improvement over the already impressive Switch 1 version. This is a huge visual overhaul, with upgrades that are reminiscent of games like Hogwarts Legacy or No Man’s Sky when they got their Switch 2 glow-up. What makes it even more impressive is that Warframe is still a free-to-play game that receives constant content updates. While this has been more of a visual analysis than a full gameplay review, the improvements here make the game feel smoother, sharper, and more immersive. For players looking for an action-packed experience without spending a fortune, this is a standout option… after all, ninjas play free in Warframe. Kudos to the devs for such a fantastic overhaul, and expect to see a full review of the gameplay soon.
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