Topic: Will we ever get more third party games that just 'work'

The thread topic, which is the entire point of a forum discussion, is about whether or not Switch 2 will see third party games that are ported well and easily. Without the kind of significant delays, effort and deep compromises that we saw for Switch for games like The Witcher or Hogwarts Legacy

My contention is that the barrier here is much thinner for Switch 2 than it has been for any Nintendo platform since the Gamecube. That third party support over the life of this console should be good. And Star Wars Outlaws landing on Switch 2 in the state that it has is evidence of this. Seemingly fairly easily ported, running at a stable 30fps, pushing what I think is fair to describe as a higher than SD output. Generally trading blows in terms of its output with the more capable Series S i.e. more stable than Series S, DLSS puts on a better showing than FSR and the RT effects are pushed harder but asset and effect resolutions are often lower. They didn't change the lighting, they didn't rip out sections of the game, they just ported it as is

I don't have any particular opinions of the game, I am not buying it, I still haven't finished Jedi Survivor which I paid almost nothing for and is sitting installed on my Steam Deck. I'm not sure I will given the game felt a bit like yet another Assassin's Creed game with a new skin, a game I feel like I've played a million times before. And Outlaws doesn't even have Lightsabres. But regardless of my opinion of the game itself or Ubisoft, this game landing on Switch 2 seemingly as effortlessly as it has? Especially given all the pre-release drama some were trying to stoke. I would say this release is evidence to back my argument and that the OP should not worry

Your contention is that Ubisoft is bad, Nintendo is bad, corporations are bad, Star Wars Outlaws is bad. That Nintendo should police the sale of third party titles that don't meet some standard of output resolution, framerate, image quality. Just outright block them from their store. And that Star Wars Outlaws does not meet this standard. Basically nothing even remotely positive anyone can say counts because you declared them to not count

And in response I think the idea of blocking the sale of this game for not meeting some quality standard:

Is comically absurd. Especially given you have in other threads used the openness of Steam and PC gaming as a hammer to bash Switch 2 with. And that all you've done here is highlight that you're just a troll and not worth anyone's effort

Then buy a PS5

@skywake sorry but how will buying a ps5 or series X (I own) make my first party Nintendo games run better. This is my number one concern. Third parties second. I’m sorry 1080p/1440p in the year of our lord 2025 isn’t good enough for some people.

@WaveBoy @sixrings
The thread topic is about third party multiplatform titles. The complaint is that Nintendo's portable gaming console with HDMI output doesn't hit post HD, stable 60fps+ in demanding third party multiplatform titles

You've purchased a mini are complaining it's suboptimal for moving a fridge. If you want to move fridges you should've purchased a van

Yeah, at this point I'm just not bothering with most third part ports on Switch 2. Unless it's something that can run easily or I really want it portably, I'm just gonna go with another platform. I will admit there are technically impressive ports, I would be lying if I denied that. But just because it's technically impressive does not mean I want to play it. At this point, even if it's unlikely, I just really hope this is Nintendo's last hybrid system.

@Bigmanfan
I think it's more just about getting the right tool for the job. It's not a knock on any one approach but all approaches have their advantages and disadvantages

If you want Nintendo exclusives and/or a flexible and relatively cheap platform then Switch 2 is alright. And the fact that these big third party games are coming to it in a broadly acceptable state? Maybe that's enough that it's more reasonably viable to be Switch 2 only

But if what you want is to play the most modern AAA multiplatform games at high image quality and framerates? Switch 2 is the wrong tool for that job. Get something else. Honestly, get a PS5 if that's what you want

In the same vein, if you want to play that obscure 2007 game at 4K and hack in HDR or modded assets. If you want to tinker with emulation or tune all the dials how you want it. Then you want a PC, get a PC

@skywake you do realize if third party games do not move on your console you become another GameCube. Even the Wii at the end was just shovelware and it survived off srs playing Wii sports. Third party games don’t sell the system starts to become irrelevant.

The best Nintendo systems, the nes, snes, switch had great to good third party support. A system dies with only its own software. Ask Sega.

@Bigmanfan miracle ports aren’t going to impress like it did last time. Most people who have a switch 2 have a ps5 and or series console because they’ve been out forever. Third parties need to bring competent software or why wouldn’t you buy the same game running better and cheaper on the other systems. Plus on the other systems you don’t need to worry about storage in the same way.

Guys, geez. Another topic that you're overcomplicating.

The Switch 2 is most likely going to be just like the Switch. The big third-party stuff like CoD and now Outlaws, Cyberpunk, etc. is probably never going to sell as well on Switch as it does on Xbox/PS. Duh. That stuff didn't sell as much with the Switch 1, and it's probably not gonna do it with the Switch 2 outside some rare exceptions.

But the third-party stuff that will sell like gangbusters once again is the indies, the JRPGs, the farm sim games, the kids' games. And that's fine, and that's more than enough to fuel the console for the audience Nintendo tends to attract. History has shown us that.

Does anybody here really think Mina the Hollower isn't gonna sell the most on Switch, for example? And probably by a sizeable amount? And that's gonna be a big game even though it's not CoD or Madden or Fifa.

And that's the other thing: those huuuuge AAA games, aside from the annual releases like Madden, are getting fewer and further between. Like, Switch didn't get Death Stranding, and that game did really well, but it was one of very few huge AAA third-party games last generation, so overall it wasn't a big deal. If blockbusters like that were coming out every few months and Switch wasn't getting any of them, that would be a different story.

Will be interesting to see Silksong numbers in the near future, actually. I think there is a very good chance it sells best on the Switch line, and that's another huge game that's not a "huge" game that Nintendo thrives on.

Shrugs.

I feel like most 3rd party games have been a banger.

Hogwarts Legacy looks basically the same as other versions but additionally offers handheld play and gyro aiming and mouse aiming. I couldn't imagine playing it anywhere else.

Cyberpunk looks very similar to other versions and offers handheld play and gyro aiming and mouse aiming (and even touchscreen and motion gestures if thats your thing). Another 3rd party game I couldn't imagine playing anywhere else.

Star Wars Outlaws looks very comparable to other versions- you can notice a downgrade if comparing side by side, but it's close enough that if you're just playing the game normally, it looks quite impressive in its own right. And it offers handheld play and gyro aiming. Yet again, I couldn't imagine playing this game anywhere else. Not having gyro aiming makes a lot of these games insufferable, but with gyro aiming they're a blast.

Wild Hearts S to me is a solid port, runs well and actually supports 4p co-op. Easily the best game in the MH genre that's not MH. And it actually runs better than it did on other platforms when it launched. Of course NSW2 is the only version which also offers handheld play.

Street Fighter 6 is incredibly similar to other versions and has extremely low latency. Its a brilliant version of the game and offers handheld play.

Civilization VII is a shining example of how mouse integration can make a 3rd party NSW2 game the definitive version. No longer stripped down like on NSW1, and higher storage speed eliminating the 5 minute turns seen late game on NSW1, the game is perfectly viable pound for pound. But with the mouse controls it becomes a far superior experience, even more than PC, as it also offers handheld play (and tabletop still allows mouse controls).

Yakuza 0, Romancing Saga 2, Rune Factory, Fantasy Life i, Tony Hawk PS3/4... all quality ports that also offer handheld play.

So if the question is whether the system will receive more third party games that just work, I would contend it already does. And regardless of whether a particular individual values handheld mode or not, most people do as evidenced by polls among the NSW1 user base. We're seeing very comparable versions that offer twice the value out the gate to the majority of players.

Of course, if portability isn't something you value, then NSW2 might not be for you, because that's one of it's biggest selling points. You could always just play exclusives on it but even then, a number of 3rd party releases exclusively offer gyro and/or mouse aiming. Why play Hogwarts Legacy or Cyberpunk or Star Wars elsewhere tethered to a TV fighting the right analog stick to aim, when I could play on NSW2 and dock/undock as desired and actually have fun aiming with gyro or using mouse mode (or both- that's the best way imo)?

But ya. 3rd party has been banging as far as Im concerned. If some feel otherwise, then hey, play on some other system then. But I'm content with my hybrid options and gyro/mouse aiming.

@WaveBoy
I mean ya, if high framerates are your priority then its quite obvious a hybrid device wont be conducive to your preferences. 30fps is a very common compromise made for AAA games to make the jump to a portable format. Either you value the versatility or you value peak performance at the cost of that freedom. Hence why there are multiple consoles that focus on different things as people will have different preferences.

As far as I'm concerned, as long as it's smooth and playable I'll make that trade every time for a hybrid version, particularly when it offers gyro and/or mouse aiming. Once you experience a game like Hogwarts Legacy or Cyberpunk using gyro or mouse aiming it's unfathomable to go back to the right analog stick. Even Star Wars Outlaws became a ton of fun with gyro, using it not just for aiming the gun but also directing Nix to various targets. It even has options for gyro on the speedbike and touchscreen support which for lock-picking puzzles seems like a great fit.

Plenty of games that do offer 60fps though and yet retain hybrid advantage. From Rune Factory and Fantasy Life i to Romancing Saga 2 and Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D (technically NSW1 version but updated for NSW2) and Yakuza 0, Street Fighter 6, etc.

It's not the Dpad I care so much about as it is the ergonomics and built in rear grip buttons that are so easily mapped on a game by game basis. Makes games so much more enjoyable when L3/R3 are mapped to the grips. Even Trails In The Sky using L3 to swing camera behind feels much more natural using GL.

I mean, you're right. But where you're clearly wrong is the lack of recognition that the Switch 2 is very clearly in a different position in terms of the port quality and required effort

Also, again, the complete lack of self awareness in your arguments to say this after arguing that Nintendo should police third party releases. And even doubling down after this by saying third parties should be making more bespoke ports for Switch 2. The releases so far proove this isn't required. That's the point

@Azileron That was an excellent analysis of these kind of pointless "Switch vs PlayStation/Xbox" debates, and I 100 % agree with everything you said.

@Azileron Xbox and PlayStation manage to both sell two types of consoles to meet their customers needs. If Nintendo can’t figure that out then that is on them. There’s choices in life. iPhone 16. iPhone 16 plus. iPhone pro. iPhone pro max. Or how about the movie theatre. I can watch F1 in imax, 3d, or regular. Or McDonald’s, a Big Mac, mcchicken, quarter pounder. Anyways if Sony and or Microsoft can figure this out then surely your lord and saviour Nintendo should be able to.

You seem to have a habit of striping all the context out of things and turning them into a binary argument. Just pause for a second and think nedt time

What I'm saying is that if you personally want to play high end third party games at their best then Switch 2 is not your platform. Switch certainly wasn't because these kinds of games rarely came across and when they did they were. In any case this is the wrong platform if that's what you want

But this isn't the same as saying if you want any third party games then buy a PS5. Clearly the existence of a game is not a negative for a platform. Clearly there will be third party exclusives and bespoke Switch 2 releases more targeted to the hardware. But if your aim was "I want this game with RT GI and I want it at 60fps, 4K".... you're doing it wrong

Also, this isn't the same as saying that third party games won't sell and we're heading to another GC. That's a crazy leap of logic. Switch had a LOWER third party output, both in terms of quality and volume. It's closing in the best selling platform of all time. And while @OmnitronVariant is attempting to argue that 2017 was different and Switch 2 is different so everything is void and everything is doom. The PS4 existed in 2017, the PS5 existed in 2020, PC portables came online, through the entire life of Switch there were better places to play but third party multiplatform titles. Switch still sold

Also I don't even know how you can make the sales argument with a straight face given, you know, the sales of Switch 2. It probably gets close to outselling GC lifetime sales by the end of this year the way it's going

I would argue Nintendo did figure it out. And again, if you don't like the level of power their portable delivers for TV gaming buy something else

It's kinda amusing. You called me a Nintendo PR department earlier for saying you're setting your expectations too high for a portable. But when I started to tell you to buy a PS5 because clearly the Switch 2 isn't for you it's nothing but "but I don't want a PlayStation, I like the Nintendos"

Gee, it's almost like we're buying Nintendo's hardware for something other than running benchmarks

@Azileron I’m sorry my negative energy is killing your vibe. Just so you know the endless positivity of unicorns and rainbows kills the vibes of objective people.

It all comes down to if the game is optimized for the platform. If so, then you get a Star Wars Outlaws or a Cyberpunk but not every game is going to meet that bar. Maybe that's a simple way to put it, but currently I consider the industry in a poor shape when it comes to optimizing games.

FF7 Remake seems to be solid, but FromSoft didn't seem to put into the work to optimize Elden Ring if the state it is in now is reflected upon release. This wouldn't be surprising given their history, Elden Ring has problems even on high end hardware.

Its a nigh miracle when a game comes out and runs well. There's many a game where performance either leaves something to be desired or is rather disappointing. Its not uncommon for a game to to perform badly across every platform and that's seriously not good.

I feel like you're creating a false binary here and putting yourself on the right side of it and everyone else on the other. I don't consider your view objective, it's incredibly subjective. You want Nintendo to conform to your specific requirements and will not accept the reality of the product they have actually released. It's not productive. They released the product they did, they cater to the market they think exists, if you don't like that product don't buy it

Meanwhile you're describing me and others who point out what the Switch 2 is and what is reasonable to expect from it given what it is as overly positive. Man, I'm just pointing out what it is. I purchased it because I accepted what it is given my requirements. But where I feel it doesn't meet my requirements I'll use my Steam Deck or my PC. I can tell you now, I haven't purchased Cyberpunk, I have little interest in Outlaws. But I have Hogwarts Legacy on PC and if I was to buy Cyberpunk it would be on PC also

But there are other titles where I would happily live with the compromise or where the compromise does not exist. Street Fighter 6, I wish I had got it on Switch 2. Smaller indie games are obviously well within what Switch 2 can comfortably achieve. It's really going to depend on the game, where I want to play it, how much I care about the visuals, how well it runs on Switch 2. But the option existing is not a bad thing and it's crazy to me that someone would argue it is. And I can see how, for some, Outlaws on Switch 2 is on the right side of that equation

The fact that I don't go out of my way to complain about things that I can avoid by just going elsewhere? The fact that I am comfortable with sometimes accepting compromises where they do exist? The fact that I see the way Nintendo has gained ground with Switch 2 in terms of ease of porting or cross-gen licence structures or whatever.... that's me just pointing out how things are

The fact that I'm realistic about what Switch 2 is while still being happy about it? I don't think that's "endless positivity of unicorns and rainbows". There's nothing inherently objective about being negative. If anything the negative comments are generally the least objective. Don't believe me? Read negative reviews on Amazon. Very often it's just people who just don't know how to use the product or have whacked expectations

@Azileron
But if the pros outweigh the cons for you personally, you accept it. If they don't, you move on. This concept seems very foreign to a lot of the gaming enthusiasts I interact with online

Forever crying about how bitterly unfair it is a truck doesnt offer the same performance as a sportscar is mindnumbing to me. If you want a sportscar experience, buy a sportscar. No matter how much you whine about how horrible an experience your truck is with fuel efficiency and acceleration, its not going to change reality. You either accept it and enjoy it, or sell it and go buy something else more conducive to your personal desires. Endlessly, whining accomplishes absolutely nothing and will not change a single frame in a single game. It serves no purpose whatsoever. Reality is what it is, love it or hate it, make a decision and and do it for what it is. But complaining about things you have no control over and which aren't going to change is asinine to the tenth degree.

It's not wrong to value peak performance and not value portability. If those are your preferences, don't go buying a hybrid system and then complaining that it doesn't offer you peak performance! That's like me buying a PS5 and then on every forum bitching the game doesnt offer handheld play or gyro aiming or mouse integration. No **** Sherlock. That's not what the system is for. If I want both tv and handheld play with gyro aiming and mouse integration, I shouldn't be buying a PS5. And if I do, complaining about games lacking those features would be the most asinine and idiotic thing to the point I would deserve to be ridiculed and mocked right off the internet. People would say to me, "no **** dumb*** if thats what you want you should have bought a Switch 2". And they'd be right.

There's 150+ million people the hybrid console appeals to. Sorry if someone isn't one of them. Tough luck. Not every product is for every person. Oh well. Accept it and move on.

But thus far, 3rd party games have exceeded my expectations. I wasn't willing to play Hogwarts Legacy on Switch due to severe compromises, nor was I willing to play on PS5 due to lack of gyro and hybrid play. But on Switch 2, I can finally have my cake and eat it too. Same for Cyberpunk. No way I'd stomach a Switch version, even if possible. At the same time, I was never going to play that game on another platform, tethered to the tv with a right analog stick to aim in a first person shooter. On Switch 2 I get my cake and can eat it too. A visually impressive and comparable version that actually offers gyro aiming and mouse aiming. So this system is offering me experiences that were too subpar for my standards on other platforms. Which means it's opening up new experiences for me that I otherwise passed on. I'd never dream of playing Star Wars Outlaws on another platform- what a mediocre experience. But getting hybrid play with gyro aiming? Suddenly the game becomes incredibly fun (gyro is such a gamechanger for the minute to minute gameplay and can make or break the entire experience) and doesnt restrict me with a ball and chain to a specific tv.

For some the hybrid advantage and/or exclusive gyro and/or mouse aiming far outweighs the marginal visual improvements or higher framerates on the other end of the scale. For others, portability means little and they're perfectly content with archaic control schemes. Ergo, Switch 2 will be the best thing since sliced bread for some and only moderately appealing to others. Thats life. No console on this planet has ever not had diverse opinions about it.

The problem is, when some people act like their opinion is objective fact and anyone who feels otherwise only does so because they're too stupid to know any better, and if they were only "enlightened" then they'd obviously agree. Which is textbook narcissism.

The system is what it is, and if it's not for you, that's okay. Go play something else. But forever whining about a 10W hybrid system not running games at parity with 250W power consoles is ridiculous and isn't going to magically change anything. It's wasted breath and does nothing but aggravate people who are enjoying the system. And sometimes it feels like that's the intent.