No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files PS5 & Xbox port impressions, comparisons, and more

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Next week sees the release of No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files on PS5, Xbox Series, and PS4. I’ve played the PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series versions and put together a comparison, looking at how the new ports perform and how the game holds up after its initial release on Steam, Switch 2, and Switch. You can find a full review of the game by Cullen here, and my feature on the Steam, Switch 2, and Switch versions from last year here.

I recently got back into playing AI: The Somnium Files and wanted to see how it ran on a bunch of different systems. I tested it on the Switch (both the original and OLED models), and even tried running a Switch version on my Steam Deck. I also played it on my PC, of course! I was curious if there were any differences since the game first came out last year, so I took screenshots and compared all the versions. I’ve included those comparisons, plus details on how long it takes to load everything, down below.

No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X impressions

When I played No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files last year, I missed a technical issue that affects the game: it seems to have the Unity 50hz problem. Basically, camera movement and cursor positioning look smooth, but when you move the character, it appears to run at a lower frame rate – specifically 50hz. I confirmed this on my Steam Deck by limiting the game to 50fps at 50hz, which fixed the jerky movement, although at a lower frame rate. This issue exists in all versions of the game, and it adds to the problems I previously identified in the Switch versions.

AI: The Somnium Files – No Sleep For Kaname Date runs smoothly at 60fps on both PS5 and Xbox Series X, avoiding the performance hiccups seen on the Switch 2. However, a camera issue persists across all versions of the game. The Xbox Series X offers the best image quality, followed closely by the PS5 version. Unlike the Switch 2, which has quality and performance options when docked, the PS5 and Xbox versions have a single, fixed setting. It’s currently unclear if the game will be enhanced for the PS5 Pro, but the standard PS5 version only offers this one mode.

Visually, the Switch 2 version appears less smooth, with more noticeable jagged edges, compared to the PS5 version which looks softer. However, the Xbox Series X version still offers the best overall quality. I’d actually prefer playing the Switch 2 version if it didn’t have occasional performance stutters, as I like the convenience of touchscreen controls and being able to continue my saved game on the go. I’ll update this comparison if a launch patch improves the PS5 version’s resolution or performance.

I wasn’t able to test the game on a PS4 console itself, but I did play it on my PS5 using backward compatibility. The game ran smoothly, as expected, and I could even import my old PS4 save data into the PS5 version – the game prompted me to do so when it found the save file.

Just a quick note about Xbox: the first two AI: The Somnium Files games let you play on both Xbox and PC, but the newest one, No Sleep For Kaname Date, is only available on Xbox Series X.

No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files load time comparison for PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, PC, and PS4

To compare how quickly the game loads on different systems, I installed No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files on several platforms. These included the Switch OLED (using an SD card and internal storage), the Switch 2 (internal storage), PlayStation 5 (internal storage and external hard drive), Xbox Series X (internal storage), Steam Deck OLED (internal storage), and ROG Ally (internal storage). I measured how long it took to load both the title screen from each console’s dashboard and a specific early-game location. The PC versions have a launcher that adds a slight delay – about one second on the Steam Deck, but less than one second on the ROG Ally. Also, the Xbox version currently forces you to watch an unskippable introductory animation, while you can skip it on other platforms.

Platform and Test Dashboard to title Loading a save
PS5 5 4
PS4 on PS5 HDD 10 8-9
Xbox Series X 22* 5
Switch 2 10-11 8-10
Switch 1 on Switch 2 9 7-8
Switch 1 20 17-18
Steam Deck 5 + 6 4-6
ROG Ally 1 + 6-7 5

The PS5 offers the quickest loading times, and the Steam release on the ROG Ally is nearly as fast. Hopefully, a future update for the Xbox version will allow players to skip the opening Spike Chunsoft animation.

Which is the best version of No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files

As a fan, I’ve been testing this on all the consoles, and honestly, the Xbox Series X version looks and plays the best, especially if you’re playing on a TV or docked. I was actually surprised by how much better the resolution is compared to the PS5 version – usually they’re pretty close! Both consoles perform really well, but they both have this annoying camera issue. The Switch 2 version, even with performance mode on, still feels a little choppy and has the camera problem. I think some players might get used to the camera issues, but it really bothers me – it reminds me of how it was in games like Dave the Diver or Super Monkey Ball before they patched it. The PS5 does load a bit faster, but if I were choosing, I’d definitely get this on Xbox if I was planning to play on my 4K TV.

If you want the smoothest handheld experience, the PC version of this game, played on a handheld gaming device, performs better than either the original Switch or the newer Switch 2. While the Switch 2 version looks good, its performance isn’t ideal. The original Switch version, played on the Switch 2, actually runs the best, avoiding slowdowns, though it has a lower resolution and some visual details are reduced. The Switch 2 version doesn’t perform as well, and it would benefit from features like VRR. Both Switch versions are good because they support touchscreen controls.

Honestly, I don’t expect any massive updates for the game from here on out, but I’m really hoping they can fix that camera issue. It’s been a problem on every version, and it seems like a simple fix that would make the 3D sections feel so much smoother. I was also a little disappointed with how the Switch 2 version ran – it’s better, but still could have used some extra optimization, you know?

No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files is out now on Nintendo Switch 2, Switch, and PC via Steam. It will be released worldwide on February 26th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 4.

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2026-02-19 21:29