Fortnite Update On Switch Sacrifices Video Capture Feature To Enhance Performance

They keep messing with this game because the switch simply can't run it. It's already the worst performing version of the game, but it's profitable enough that they won't give up on it just yet.

That’s garbage. I loved recording a cool clip and showing it to my friends

At least they are trying.

Is there any reason why Nintendo doesn't allow disabling video recording on a system level? I would gladly trade a feature I never use for improved performance, even if that was minor...

Next time, add an update of Reggie dropping of the battle bus to meet us all on the battlefield of Fortnite.

The moment I no longer care that Sony didn't let me transfer my content.

Optional would be nice for thise that use it.

Hopefully in time Epic and Nintendo will manage a locked 30fps with perfect frame pacing.

@Rika_Yoshitake The mobile version actually runs crappier tbh

Can't they just lower the resolution to 720p?

I thought I heard that the game was fine with recording when it was released on the Switch. What changed between then and now? Poor optimization? It's their engine

I'm kind of intrigued even though I don't play the game.

@HenryKissinger They should have made a Reggie outfit with Nintendo backpack, Wiimote pickaxe, and Virtual Boy glider as a free pack for Switch players since day one.

@Rika_Yoshitake but the Switch CAN run it. It was great playing it up until season 5 and even then it was very playable 80-90% of the time.

Yes, the Switch is "underpowered". Yes, this game was initially designed with more powerful hardware in mind, but that doesn't mean 30fps and a somewhat lower resolution in a cartoony looking game makes it unplayable. That's just the entitlement people have these days because of the technical marvels we have seen on other systems or by other developers.

That sucks. I love capturing my good moments. Maybe it’ll comeback someday when they get everything sorted out?

@Rika_Yoshitake But... It does run it. And it runs pretty well, all things considered. Especially when first released, but there has been a definite dip in quality since season 5. Mobile version, even on the newest phones, runs worse, and has abysmal controls to boot. Now, as for the actual article, bit of a shame that they're dropping the recording, but I can understand it. I haven't been playing much recently anyways.

I'm just glad they got a working solution (for now). Recording gameplay clips really isn't important to me.

@Majora101 Different standards to now. Back then low fps for 5th generation consoles was acceptable due to 3D gaming being new. Goldeneye and Perfect Dark were in the low teens but some games like SM64 were close to a locked 25/30fps.

In a competitive shooter, especially in an era where online gaming allows you to connect to anyone, a stable framerate is a must. 30fps is a minimum because any lower and input latency will become a problem, as well as the smoothness of gameplay. We now understand that frame pacing can also impact the quality of a game if the frames are not delivered consistently, which results in stuttering. This can cause you to miss your shots against other players. An example would be if an explosion goes off behind a player you’re shooting at and it causes your game to drops fps and stutter, if even for a moment in a crucial firefight, it could lead to your loss. As the enemy has their back to said explosion, they still maintain smooth, precise controls and have an advantage.

I get where you’re coming from though. I didn’t mind it back then and I don’t mind mind low fps and bad frame pacing for older games now. But for newer games, performance should be a priority.

@helbertpina not certain but pretty sure that wouldn’t improve performance if you’re not using it. The issue was it was an online game so other players recording during the match would affect the whole game, even for the players not recording. Your online match is only as smooth as the weakest link.

My daughters and I play Fornite rather regularly. I'd say every other night or so, we pull out our Switch's together and play 3 or 4 rounds together before they get ready for bed. I can't say that we've noticed any real problems with how the game plays, other than maybe a bit of the buildings not coming in right away, but that's been pretty infrequent. For us, the games have run mostly smoothly, and we quite enjoy playing squads together. Although I have used the video capture feature a few times, its not something I use frequently on a personal level (more so now that MHGU is out, but still not nearly as much as the picture capture). And while its sad for those that use the feature frequently, I think this won't affect the majority of Switch Fortnite players, other than to improve their game performance. Making the feature an option for those that want it in the future I think is a good idea.

@Rika_Yoshitake

If my phone can run it, the Switch definitely can.

I was fine waiting a few seconds for all the building textures to load, but it strarted taking longer and longer, and eventually I just stopped playing altogether. I've hopped on to try the Getaway LTM, and noticed a massive improvement in quality with the last couple updates. Still not enough to pry me away from Hollow Knight just yet.

Jumped back to PC ages ago. This version is a mess.

The Switch is like old Smartphones and PCs hardware. You can basically do 1 thing at a time or you in chop city.

It seems odd. I'm no expert of the Tegra X1 hardware, but I understand it has encoding capabilities in hardware to compress video on-the-fly of up to 4k@60fps through a module separate from the CPU and GPU, leaving only RAM bandwidth an issue as it writes to a ring buffer that's probably no bigger than 50MB for holding 30-seconds at any given time. For RAM that is capable of up to 25.6GB/s (not Gbps), writing to it at roughly 1MB/s for video recording seems trivial to performance.

@helbertpina I would think the same way but then immediately remember that it's Nintendo we're talking about here. This is the same company that still refuses to offer remappable controls in most of it's games let alone giving users the option to turn off features that they don't want.

Video capture and screen shot a feature I always forget about

That is bs!!!! Its bad enough we dont have carear or replay tab now i cant even capture my recordings of a win

This is not a good trade off. Epic were already taking measures to improve performance though other means, and they had a significant positive effect. Disabling a feature like this is an absolute shame, sometimes I would even do things in game specifically to save as clips. Now I can't, and while performance is quite good now, I feel upset because one of my favourite parts of Fortnite was sacrificed for it.

@Rika_Yoshitake There's a difference between not being able to run something and it not running well.

I didn't have any major issues myself, my two nephews are seasoned, and awesome, players on PS4 and they LOVE playing on my Switch. It's definitely improved recently, and to be honest I always forget about the video capture option.

The option of enabling/disabling video capture would certainly be welcome. I personally only ever saw an issue with the texture loading (could probably count the times I bit the dust just because the textures or weapons weren't loading on two hands) but it's been fixed even before that update.

In general, each and every game should support video capture.

I think it can only be a good thing if they’re still trying to improve the game. Many wouldn’t bother.

Personally, I’d like video capture back. I don’t mind a small performance hit.

And the game runs fine. Who are these people who say it doesn’t? As smooth as XBox? No. But good enough to play and have fun? Easily! If you need 60fps, maybe you’re just not good enough? Some of us grew up lucky to get 25fps.

...Remember when Quality/Performance options were a thing?

And the game runs the same... Please bring it back, and give us a career tab while you're at it.

It’s such a shame that gamers today see these kinds of things as pivotal in their experience and enjoyment in a game. It ties into the boom of social media and the narcissistic need to show everyone every little thing. Don’t get me wrong, I like replays to show mates from time to time but if it isn’t there it doesn’t take away the purpose and playability of the game.

Then again, re-playing the same loop of gameplay through ‘seasons’ with addictive additives baffles me a bit.

Maybe I’m just dropping out of the loop here.

It's becoming more common now; sacrifices being made to allow a third party port onto the Switch.

We are constantly being told that the Switch needs to attract more third party developers games, and with the lack of Nintendo games this year, this could not be more true.

But these third party games have to be dumbed down in some form or another to accommodate the Switch. And so we get six year old ports and safe Indi games.

Fortnite wants more sales on the Switch and will reduce the content because of this and the Switch owner gets second best.

Nintendo needs to offer a more powerful Switch as well as the existing one which is fine for handheld gamers. Otherwise the Switch will become the go to handheld device and the device for the occasional Mario/Zelda game. And the PS4/5 will be the main home console for serious gamers. As I'm sure happens already.

The amount of people bashing Fortnite on here is just toxic, frankly. It might be 'uncool' to like a popular game, but frankly those who do couldn't give less of a flying ****.

Personally I think it's a real shame that they've got rid of video capture, but hopefully they can figure out a way that they can sustain performance with video capture in the future.

@Coach_A That's what I don't get! What changed with season 5 that caused this to be an issue? Video recording was turned on before that point and we weren't seeing these sort of performance issues...

@ShadJV The video capture impacts performance even if you don't use it, because pressing the record button saves the last 30 seconds before the button is pressed. That means the system is recording all the time and is keeping the last 30 seconds in its RAM.

As someone who has worked and is working on the Nintendo Switch I can understand why they would turn off this feature. The hardware runs on shared memory, so anything taking up resources (RAM in this case) is going to bottleneck other systems (performance in this case).

Having the recording system on means the game is always recording the last 30 seconds of gameplay, storing this raw footage in RAM, this means less RAM can be used for other important parts of the game primarily GPU or CPU related instructions and data.

I support them removing it and possibly having it as an option with a warning that it'll hit performance if turned on.

I retuned to this game after an month break. Things look so improve now that is like playing a totally different game! I’m glad they are dedicating so much ine and effort. In haven’t put any money down for this game.

Same reason Xenoblade 2 and Octopath don't use it.

Maybe if Nintendo didn’t skimp on hardware...

That's a shame, I actually use the video capture for Fortnite quite a bit. It ran perfectly fine on day one, but I guess season 5 is just nonstop issues. Hoping they'll get their act together soon so this feature can return.

I'm extremely disappointed I love the video capture! on fortnite I always want to re-watch the last 30 seconds of my 'solo' victories! I wish that I could record even longer. I can take whatever 'performance' issues said to be the reason for this decision. please bring it back!

and yet my game still performs shotty!!! I don't get it, they keep taking things away, and the game keeps getting worse. There are instances where the game rendering of details looks like a 5 year old smeared crap on 3d structures. COME ON EPIC!!!!