Assassin’s Creed Shadows Switch 2 will run at 30fps on Switch 2, will use DLSS, and will not use RTGI

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Ubisoft recently shared details about the upcoming Switch 2 version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. They discussed how the game will perform (specifically the target frame rate), how it uses lighting, what adjustments were made for playing in handheld mode, and unique features taking advantage of the new Switch 2 hardware.

So, I’ve been following the news on Assassin’s Creed Shadows for the Switch 2, and it’s looking pretty solid! We’ll be able to use the touchscreen for menus, which is awesome, and thankfully, it’ll have cross-progression so I can keep my progress going. Ubisoft just confirmed it’ll run at 30fps, and while it won’t have ray tracing, it will use DLSS and VRR to help with performance. One more thing – the ‘Claws of Awaji’ expansion is coming later in 2026, which I’m already looking forward to!

 

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC – you can find it on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Ubisoft store. You can read Dave’s review of the game here. It will be available for Nintendo Switch 2 on December 2nd.

Ubisoft has revealed technical details and gameplay footage for the Assassin’s Creed port coming to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Hello everyone,

We’re thrilled to announce that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be available on the new Nintendo Switch 2 starting December 2nd! Now you can experience Naoe and Yasuke’s adventure in feudal Japan, playing on your TV or taking it with you wherever you go.

When the new Nintendo Switch 2 launches, it will include all previously released updates. The only exception is the ‘Claws of Awaji’ expansion, which will become available in February 2026. Plus, thanks to Ubisoft Connect, you’ll be able to continue your progress on any platform.

Creating a vast and detailed open world like this for the Switch 2 – originally built for more powerful consoles – was a huge technical challenge for Ubisoft. The team successfully delivered a smooth, high-quality experience that looks great whether you’re playing on the go or with the console connected to a TV.

To mark the game’s launch, we’re talking with Yannick, our Technical Graphic Director, and Bruno, the Project Lead Programmer, about how they brought the world of feudal Japan to this new console.

Inside the technical challenge

Bruno says porting Shadows to the Switch 2 was incredibly difficult, but also a very satisfying experience. They essentially had to rebuild the game from the ground up – changing how everything looks and works – while still preserving what made the original game special.

The team focused on making the game look amazing. Assassin’s Creed Shadows was known for how realistic and grand it felt, and they wanted players to experience that same feeling.

Bringing the experience to the Nintendo Switch was exciting. However, maintaining a smooth framerate of 30 FPS, whether playing on a TV or handheld, demanded a lot of careful optimization and adjustments.

Adapting the systems

Assassin’s Creed Shadows was initially built for PlayStation and Xbox. Recently, the developers have been working hard to get it running well on the new Switch 2 console. This involved making some technical adjustments to the game – like optimizing graphics – to ensure a smooth experience without sacrificing the game’s overall quality or depth.

Yannick explains that a lot of effort has gone into ensuring everything works well and looks great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsNKv9-sLDU

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We’re still using our existing cloud and cloth technology, but we’ve made it work better on ARM processors. We’ve also reduced the amount of data the graphics card needs to process without sacrificing visual quality.

Although the Switch 2 is capable of ray-traced global illumination, we chose to use our traditional baked global illumination system. We also use this system for less powerful PCs and the Xbox Series S because of memory limitations. This allows us to maintain a consistent experience across all platforms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 3A1RPuzHdJk

Optimization

The team put a lot of effort into making sure Switch 2 felt lively and offered a great experience.

The team made a few changes to make the game work well on the go, but they were careful to keep the core experience and fun gameplay intact.

Bruno explains that they use a system to fine-tune every aspect of their games, keeping a close eye on both quality and how well they run. This allows them to make precise adjustments and achieve the ideal result. A key benefit of their game engine, Anvil, is its ability to easily scale, meaning they can change graphics and simulation details without impacting player experience.

To keep the game running smoothly while still offering a detailed and immersive world, we carefully balanced things like how far away objects are displayed, the clarity of textures, and how quickly new elements load.

The game world still feels vibrant and detailed, but we’ve slightly reduced the number of non-player characters in very busy areas to help the game run smoothly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= ftIVi54rkxA

DEEP LEARNING SUPER SAMPLING

The team utilized Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), a technology that uses advanced AI to create sharp, high-quality images from lower-resolution sources.

Ultimately, this leads to a clearer, more vibrant picture with detailed textures and fewer imperfections. You’ll also experience smoother gameplay, with faster frame rates, more fluid motion, and quicker response times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= PKR5DXmmxP4
 

Designed for both ways to play

The developers aimed to ensure the game ran smoothly at 30 frames per second, whether played on a TV or in portable mode.

As a player, I really appreciate that they’ve focused on keeping the game running smoothly when playing in handheld mode. They’ve tweaked things like the graphics details, how far away things are drawn, and the level of detail to make sure it doesn’t slow down, which is awesome!

Playing Shadows while the Switch 2 is docked lets you experience its best graphics. Even in handheld mode, the game looks great thanks to HDR support, which makes colors more vibrant. Plus, the console’s variable refresh rate technology ensures a smoother, more responsive gaming experience on the go.

Usually, VRR technology requires a minimum framerate of 40 frames per second. However, Assassin’s Creed Shadows on the Switch 2 runs at 30 FPS. According to Bruno, the development team didn’t want to sacrifice smoothness, so they created a special system to keep VRR working even at the lower framerate, ensuring a fluid and responsive gaming experience.

Switch 2-specific features

Assassin’s Creed Shadows on the Nintendo Switch 2 offers new and engaging ways to play. The touch screen allows for easier and more natural interaction with menus, maps, and your hideout.

Just a heads-up: the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will launch with almost all of the game’s extra content already included. The ‘Claws of Awaji’ expansion will be released separately sometime in 2026.

We’re planning more updates for the Switch 2 to keep it consistent with other gaming systems, meaning players will get the same great support and features. We’ll also be continuously improving performance with updates, and we’re working on adding keyboard and mouse support when the console is connected to a TV.

You can play Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, Apple silicon Macs (via the Mac App Store), and PC (through the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store). It’s also included with a Ubisoft+ Premium subscription.

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2025-11-27 19:58