Dragon's Dogma 2 on Switch 2: the "impossible" port goes head to head with PS5 and Steam Deck

Dragon's Dogma 2 is no longer reserved for the most powerful machines. With the launch of Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Switch 2, the big question was how one of the most demanding RE Engine games would survive on Nintendo's new console. As reported by Vandal, ElAnalistaDeBits has already put the Switch 2 version side by side with PS5 and Steam Deck, and the results cut both ways: the visuals hold up better than expected, but performance still needs work.

This matters beyond the game itself. Dragon's Dogma 2 launched with a reputation for being demanding, running on an engine that, outside the tight corridors of Resident Evil, has struggled with open worlds. Capcom daring to bring it to a hybrid handheld is a real test for third-party games on Switch 2 and a hint of what we can expect from other heavy releases in the future.

What you need to know

• Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is now available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series and Switch 2.
• ElAnalistaDeBits has published comparisons of the Switch 2 version against PS5 and Steam Deck to show the graphical cutbacks.
• Digital Foundry has also shown interest in a port that initially seemed "impossible" on Nintendo's console.
• The visuals hold up well, but performance is the area most in need of improvement.
• The RE Engine has a history of problems with open worlds, something also seen in Monster Hunter Wilds.

The RE Engine and its never-ending struggle with open worlds

To understand why this port is generating so much curiosity, you have to look back. The RE Engine is a marvel in controlled spaces: series like Resident Evil prove it with every new entry. But when Capcom took it to huge open environments packed with simultaneous systems, the seams started to show. Dragon's Dogma 2 was the first big warning sign, and Monster Hunter Wilds later confirmed that the engine wasn't particularly well optimized for this kind of game.

According to Vandal, those issues were gradually ironed out through later updates, and it's precisely that accumulated work that now makes versions for more modest hardware possible. Dark Arisen therefore arrives as a more polished game than the original launch, although that doesn't mean the jump to Switch 2 came without a cost.

Switch 2 vs PS5 and Steam Deck: where the cutbacks show

The choice of comparison is quite telling. On one side is PS5, the home console benchmark that shows how the game should look with plenty of headroom. On the other is Steam Deck, Switch 2's natural rival in the handheld space and the fairest yardstick for judging Capcom's work. ElAnalistaDeBits didn't accompany the videos with conclusions of their own, leaving the interpretation up to each viewer, while Digital Foundry did highlight the positives: the graphics hold up better than anyone could have expected.

The Achilles' heel, as expected, is smoothness. The image quality is convincing, but performance still isn't at the level many players would want for a comfortable experience, especially in an action game where fights against giant creatures demand instant responsiveness.

Our take

Here at Underworld Lordz, we're clear on this: getting Dragon's Dogma 2 running on Switch 2 with respectable visuals is a technical achievement that deserves credit. Not long ago, this would have been dismissed out of hand, and the fact that Digital Foundry is talking about a version that seemed "impossible" says a lot about Capcom's effort. For anyone who plays on the bus, in bed or on a long trip, being able to carry Vermund around in your backpack is a genuine selling point.

That said, to be critical, prioritizing visuals over smoothness is a questionable decision. For a competitive player or anyone used to demanding sessions, inconsistent performance matters more than pretty textures. We hope Capcom does what it did with the original version and keeps polishing the port with patches, because the RE Engine's track record with open worlds doesn't leave much room for blind faith.

For content creators, there's another angle: technical comparisons are still pure gold. These kinds of videos spark debate, drive views and build community, and Dragon's Dogma 2 on Switch 2 is exactly the kind of release that lends itself to analysis, performance tests and livestreams comparing platforms. If you make content, there's plenty of material here.

What do you think?

Opinions on the team are all over the map: some would rather sacrifice smoothness to play anywhere, while others won't tolerate a single performance drop, even in a single-player adventure. Would you play Dragon's Dogma 2 on Switch 2 knowing performance still needs work, or are you sticking with PS5 or Steam Deck? Drop by the team chat or our Discord and let us know.