The folks at Digital Foundry have recently taken a trip to hell and back to find out how Diablo III: Eternal Collection runs on the Nintendo Switch and also how it compares to existing versions of the game. Iron Galaxy's Switch conversion sits somewhere in between the last generation and current generation versions of the game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Described as the "last gen plus" release, the team behind this edition has "done a pretty great job" in terms of the visuals, performance and controls. On the subject of resolution, Blizzard said during a preview build the game sits at around 960p, but apparently docked it's closer to 900p and in practice is around 1600 x 900 - which could be linked to dynamic resolution. It can also drop to 1344 x 756, making it 70 percent of a full 1080p. Still, it's not low enough to reach 720p - which happened to be the maximum resolution for the last generation console versions of the game. In portable mode, the game runs at 720p, which is the native screen resolution and can drop down to 960 x 540.
As for visual quality, don't go expecting bloom effects. Ambient occlusion has also been dialed back and the density of particles has been dropped rather than the resolution. This isn't all that noticeable in the heat of the action, and applies to both the docked and handheld modes.
The framerate is effectively locked at 60 - which is a massive improvement over last generation versions. In more hectic moments when there is a lot of activity on-screen, the game can drop to as low as 45 frames. Again, this applies to both the handheld and docked modes. This is mainly when there are a lot of enemies on-screen and multiple effects are being used at once. Overall though, "this is a really nice port" according to Digital Foundry. Blizzard along with Iron Galaxy have done a great job.
How has your time been with the Diablo III: Eternal Collection on the Switch been so far? Are you enjoying it? Tell us below.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 56
It is the first time I’ve played this game & Ive enjoyed it greatly. I split my gaming between this & Red Dead 2 currently. Both are great for totally different reasons.
Nice to see the Switch version runs well.
Just got back from buying D3 on my lunch break and watched the Digital Foundry breakdown, can't wait to get stuck in...
for me victor vron & titan quest didnt deliver so looks like its back to diabo for my fix
900p in 2018? Unacceptable.
It should be full 4k with HDR to include even colours not visible to the human eye, every frame should have a hidden ultraviolet only image that when collated with every other frame in the game creates a map to El Dorado and the game should do all that while wearing sexy lingerie because screw it I'm an entitled nerd who wants his jollies while having his cake and eating it too!
I've also been told by my business associates that to keep the lights on in the DF (Devil's Fornicator) offices I have to say the game card should taste like Cheerios and if not to call Blizzard's customer service at which point you will receive a replacement with a lifetime supply of phones in your pocket to play mobile titles while on the toilet recovering from that Mountain Dew and Dorito party you had last night that meant you had to skip work today to play more Diablo 3.
Oh, and your Mom says the mini pizzas are in the oven and you should take them out in half an hour.
I've been playing the game exclusively in handheld mode and it's pretty impressive how well it runs. It drains the battery really quickly and my fan starts blasting sometimes which is pretty unusual for handheld mode, must be pushing the system close to its limits.
@Knuckles-Fajita u are my new hero. Teach me your ancient ways. WHERE do I sign up?
It seems pretty reasonable. I can’t wait to play it.
Why would you buy this? Don’t you all have phones?
Not the best time to talk about Diablo
1 Games the Switch can only do 30fps = "Can't see the difference"
2. Games the Switch can do 60 fps = "a massive improvement"
🤔🤨🙃
Too bad the D3 icon looks so ugly, it disfigured the menu on my Switch.
One thing that all reviews failed to mentioned is the nice HD rumble, there are little touches like when you level up it buzzed to let you know.
Gonna pick the game and dark soul remastered up this end of the month! So hyped!
I love DF's videos! Amazing how all the other things I read or watched about Diablo on Switch said it was perfect 60 fps all the time, but the DF guys brought it down to 40! I'm glad they mentioned how extreme that case is though, because just like they report, it runs perfectly nearly all the time. I don't understand why, but I just love being able to play games on the Switch at 60 fps. It's really satisfying and fun to see. It's especially awesome when games run at 60 in both docked and portable mode, but compromises like Fire Emblem Warriors are still very much appreciated! I wish Digital Foundry had 100 times more resources so they could do at least brief videos on nearly all games that come out. I want frame rate championships!
Diablo series is the best ARPG game series (according to most) so if you never played it you should give it a try. It was a dream to have a mobile version of Diablo.
"It can also drop to 1344 x 756, making it 70 percent of a full 1080p."
Interesting math you have there, only using the height to get the resolution difference. 1920x1080 = 2 073 600 pixels while 1344x756 = 1 016 064. That is roughly 50 percent of a full HD.
I'm glad that they achieved 45+ fps, as this is a game where you really can appreciate that smoothness while killing hordes of enemies.
Im glad they made this great port.
@Agramonte
Both statements can be true at the same time. It depends on the game.
Like Dark Souls Remastered, Diablo III on Switch is a PS360++ version of the game.
Probably enough for newcomers to the series... Otherwise...
@60frames-please is it only me that is reading that switch has a frame rate locked at 60 in both docked and undocked while previous generation could get a hit to 45...
@Cobalt I appreciate people being critical but i feel you are just going for the negative at any comment you make on this forum. I know you have your Switch for the Nintendo first party games and you are not satisfied with the rate Nintendo creates them for you but if you only care for the first parties because all the rest is better on PS4 or XBox, why even bother to comment on them every chance you get. WE KNOW SWITCH IS TECHNICALLY LESS VS PS4, Nintendo wanted a different sort of console instead of just trying to mimic Sony. Accept it, get over it or please just stop trying to be negative with same type of comment on each article. I bought my Switch for the hybrid part and first party games. All the ports / late 3rd party games are a bonus. I can choose to buy it on my Switch or on my PS4 and the decision for me is on how i want to experience the game (some i want to play only on a big screen, but i know that limits the amount of time i can play it with the tv's being used by kids / wife). I am not a frame rate / graphics freak, the gameplay itself is for me more important and making it playable in handheld is a big plus for me. If you emphasis the graphics and frame rates, then take the PS4 versions but you complain about the technical inferiority constantly and it is not going away so either accept it or sell it but please, just please stop complaining about it in every article. As i said i do not need fanboyism in every comment but the fact that the switch is not able to provide PS4 Pro type of performance is known so no point to point this out all the time. use your criticism more pointed towards what makes sense (like why no PIKMIN4 still ).
Not played the pc version for a while but it feels very smooth on switch and I can't tell a difference
Playing torment 13 rifts atm and it holds up with no issues
however I only play hardcore and not many players are about
Sitting inside the top 20 barbarians on the ranks is fine by me hopefully push to top 10 before I die trying
For me Victor Vran first next Diablo. Now We need pray and have hope for Borderlands and Borderlands 2 with all DLC
@Agramonte that's because they have to sell. so positive towards 30fps. We all know how a game like Tales of Symphonia PC version was only 30fps while on gamecube it was 60fps, except on world map. In battles it felt so cluncky and moving in cities was a slow down. It's not smooth at 30fps and that's the difference. You might can't see it, but you sure can feel it playing 60fps the smoothness. with that said
Currently paragon level 60 with a crusader , going for a thorns build and running greater rifts for materials.
I knew there was a reason I stopped playing on pc all those years ago, "Don't worry, you'll only play it on your commute" I said to myself.....
Great game Blizzard. I love it.
Now please give us StarCraft remastered
@Drussa
You know, I never saw you doing the same thing in the opposite case.
Why don't you write the same kind of block when a "blind Nintendrone" explains how superior everything on Switch is ?
I'm sorry if you don't get that what is negativity for you, is only normality for me.
Look, when I say Diablo III on Switch is a PS360++ version, tell me why this is not true rather than "this is negativity"...
The same for Dark Souls Remastered, tell me more why this is not a PS360++ version than something else...
You know, even Digital Foundry says it, so is it me who's negative OR is it a bunch of blind fanboys who see everything with pink glasses and then, are not able to see the facts...anymore ?
@Cobalt Because nobody here makes passive aggressive comments about how the Switch is superior. We all know it is a weaker system.
If you want to have an actual discussion that is fine. But you just pop in and drop an incendiary comment without adding any value to the conversation.
@Indielink "passive aggressive comments" ?
The opposite of a banal truth is a stupid mistake. The opposite of a deep truth is another deep truth.
Take some minutes... ^^
Oh no, I was expecting bloom effects. Bloom effects are very important for my gameplay experience.
Sounds like a good conversion. Nice job.
DF are very good when writing about the Switch. They don’t just brainlessly compare Switch versions to their PS4 equivalent. Instead they’ve grasped that Switch is a different type of thing and give credit where due to those developers who work within the confines of the system and get good results.
@Drussa
Well said. A lot of people on should sell their switch and piss off to ps4 land forever.
@Cobalt Even if Diablo is a PS3 or an Xbox360 plus-plus version what's the problem with it being on the Switch? We know by now that the Switch can handle even better looking games. So what? Are those versions both console and portable versions? No. Are gamers obsessed with blooming lights and some missed pixels here and there? No.
@Cosats
This is my point ! What's the problem ? Just that it's a fact so why fanboys come to defend it... there is nothing to defend because it's just the truth...
Basically, we all agree then, Diablo III is again a new port on Switch that doesn't reach the PS4/ONE technical quality but "enhanced" a PS3/360 version.
The real questions are :
WHY a majority of people here never played DIablo before... ?
WHY a majority of people here never paid attention to Diablo before... ?
WHY a game is good when it's on Switch but previously the majority of people here didn't care... ?
WHY to pay 60€ a game that cost 20€ today ?
The answer is simple :
A huge majority of people here are just fanboys and when somebody comes to just talk about facts then it's the apocalypse... ^^
PS : Now, I know that some people are gonna come with the famous "But I wanna be able to play to the toilets, on the train, on the road etc..." so, a game becomes interesting only when you can play it everywhere ? Are you kidding me ?
Coming back to D3 after a long break on PC. What's really great about this version is that hardcore mode is much more viable since lag is no longer an issue. Every free waking moment that I've had (which isn't much honestly) I've spent leveling up my Barb and Necromancer.
@Cobalt why are you arguing this point...
In reality the switch is a mobile platform that supports pretty big titles and is the reason why I wanted one so I could game at home while the other half is watching the TV etc and to play while I'm waiting for things...
The playstation and xbox are also never going to be as good as a PC everyone knows this too...
For me having a switch let's me play when traveling and on downtime while the pc let's me play titles that are far superior to any ps4 or xbox equivalent
Despite this you keep quoting the ps4 xbox as if they are good when in reality their components go out of date by the time it hits the production line
The switch literally switched things up and was my only reason for getting a console... the fact that decent titles can perform admirably on it is brilliant
But in conclusion pc trumps xbox ps4 and switch for power and the switch trumps pc ps4 and xbox on portability
@reignmaker hopefully I can see you in a game sometime there are not enough hardcore players at the moment
@Balta666 I'm not clear what you're asking, but I'll try to respond. DF showed that in a very rare case switch drops to 40 fps. They also showed how PS3 and Xbox 360 would drop frames very often. Those older systems would go down to 50 fps pretty frequently. Not sure if what I just typed is relevant to your comment ...
@Cobalt, what are fanboys to you? You seem to blindly love the ps4. I would say that makes you a fan boy, because you always talk about how inferior the switch is to the ps4. But you know this site is about the switch, yes everyone has their opinions. Is there one time that you are happy with the switch, or it making you miserable and you have to share it on this site.
@Audiobrainiac The trick is learning to ignore your brain telling you not to say something.
Also be mentally ill, and weird enough to come up with these kinds of things.
@Thecoe
I'm agree with you when you say that the Switch is a mobile platform. The problem is that Nintendo sold the Switch like that in Japan at launch but NOT in the US and EU...
Here, they sold it as a home console that you can bring everywhere if you want to do it.
In the French Nintendo's website they say : " Une console de salon portable " which means " A home console that you can hold ".
The reality is the reverse : The Switch is a portable that you can plug on your TV if you want to do that...
It's not the same...
@ekwcll
I'm not a fanboy at all, or I'm a good games fanboy then. ^^
Zelda Breath of The Wild is my favorite since the last 10 years.
Does it mean that while I say that, I'm a Nintendo fanboy ?
God, I love the real great Nintendo yes I do, but when Nintendo comes with Go Vacations, 1 2 Switch, Kirby Star Allies, Ultra Smash + Zillions of Wii U ports, yeah I'm pissed off a little bit.
The Switch is a fantastic idea but take off the Wii U games and the old Ports from the PS2/PS3/360/DS eras... What's left ?
What are the Nintendo's titles of the last 11 months ?
I want to play on my Switch but to do that, give me SWITCH GAMES !
@60frames-please I believe you did. I did not watch DF video but I was being confused by the way NL wrote it as the first thing they say is that is "effectively locked at 60".
@Cobalt
I think one big reason we are getting a lot of these ports is that there is a sizeable sector of gamers who have been Nintendo-only gamers for many years (myself included). This leaves a decent amount of sales out there for these games for game companies to cash in on, while also giving many of us our first chance to play them (plus the added portable aspect appeal on top of that). Nothing wrong with that. And like many others have said, it doesn't matter to us that they are merely enhanced ports of PS3/360 games and not up to the quality of PS4/Xbox One.
That said, I definitely agree with you about the new games that are made exclusively for Switch. We definitely should start seeing much more of them. Hopefully with the great install base that the Switch has already, and continues to grow at a fast rate, other game companies besides Nintendo will be getting us new games made exclusively for Switch.
This is a great port of a great game. Only frame-rate/resolution drop I noticed was when me and my two boys playing local co-op hopped into a rift and were immediately greeted by a few dozen monsters on-screen. But other than that, it runs smooth as silk.
@Balta666 oh, I was the opposite. I had already watched the video, but still haven't read their article! Anyways, yeah, in my playtime I've never seen Diablo 3 on switch drop any frames
@Mountain_Man Big Business is one of my favorite movies! I couldn't stop laughing when I first saw it! I was also lucky enough to see it in a theater once.
@Cobalt Unfortunately, Nintendo Life's comments section is in archaic state and answers of a 15th post may be on the 100th, 230th and 257th comment. Therefore, it makes it very difficult to follow an argument. I'd say i agree with your point of view until your answer. I don't agree with the "fanboys" answer. If you go a little further, read @Thecoe 's comment. I agree with that.
😀😀😀
People who still can’t grasp that portability is very attractive to many people
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Amazing.
@Cosats I am finding it might just be best to hit the ignore button for him. He seems intent on dragging up old arguments that have been hashed out here over and over. He might have a point about releases of old games but his insistence on low key insulting people has gotten old.
you know what, I have tomorrow off, I think I should dock my Switch and play Diablo on my 55", I am VERY interested the more I think of it !!!
New Rumour: Diablo 4 or Diablo IV is a 3D graphics platforms. So very cool graphics stuff.
@Drussa
Didn’t see the exchange, but know your seniment and agree. For many of us long time multiple platform gamers, playing is about choice. I have always played both home and portable systems, so the Switch is the dream concept I always wanted. The amount of protable vs. TV time I have varies and finally I have a system that lets me play continuously regardless of my time configuration.
I legacy game more than I should so love all the ports, and Switch has given me a chance to finish games I couldn’t when locked to the Big screen (like Skyrim and even Zelda). I can not wait to get Ff12 remake on Switch and am loving Okami and others currently.
Performance wise the Switch is a marvel for what it is. I am amazed they are cranking this quality of grafx out of a mobile chipset device. Many devs are doing a good job with ports and creating degraded but intact and enjoyable games. As you said we don’t need people dogging ports as we know they will be less than the x86 versions. So what, hybrid means I will get to play it and finish it, I have about 20 PS4 games I have never touched.
Lets not forget the Switch is getting more than just late or last gen ports. The Indy scene has really matured and Switch has become the top destination. We are getting good new stuff as well with more coming as the system gains market mass it gets harder for majors to ignore it.
The best part is its only the begining for the tech stream and concept. Nintendo will ride this forever. They always owned the portable market and now they own the hybrid/portable market. Eventually we will get the next Nvidia chipset, it will give us 1080p or beyond.
As for waiting for N games......when they are rolling (and they are), N gets a lot going in the pipeline then has a big year. They did that smartly in 17, this year was a small lull with lots of good wiiu ports, but 19 amd beyond are going to be big. Which makes the final point which is N has a very successful system again and that means we are going to see an incredible next several years.
@Indielink I've been wondering that myself, I don't know why people keep responding to him, he's like a broken record, it's the same crap every single day. Imagine if the comment section was just him, the Irish fella and the Irish fella's second account...traffic would plummet.
I don't have my ps4 setup so I can play it on the crapper and in the middle of the action you can't really notice the graphic differences. I must be a fanboy I guess.
@Cobalt I think it is fine to want switch exclusive games, but that doesn’t mean every port is inheritantly bad... also you implied earlier that people are getting d3 on switch as their first time experiencing the game because they are fanboys and should get it on a superior system (eg. ps4) but the main appeal is as a fantastic handheld arpg. PS4 is not handheld. Also you are completely ignoring the fact not everyone has multiple consoles.
@TheMadPolarBear you win the interwebs today! lol!!!
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