As is becoming tradition through the early stages of the life cycle of a modern Nintendo console, the Switch 2’s software library is currently being propped up by a number of ports of current and previous-gen home console games. But where the conversation around the original Nintendo Switch was dominated by the question of, “Could it possibly run this??”, this bold new era of the company’s hybrid handheld has inspired a much more hopeful, “It could possibly run this!”
Take the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, for example. CD Projekt Red’s ambitious sci-fi RPG landed in spectacularly unruly fashion on the PS4 and Xbox One, to the point where PlayStation eventually removed it from sale entirely while it underwent significant work. The PS5 and Xbox Series iteration fared much better, thankfully, and even became the exclusive homes for the even more demanding Phantom Liberty expansion on console. And yet here we are now, with a version of the game that runs on a portable Nintendo, in a state that’s far more solid than the initial console launch, and even includes Phantom Liberty. Who’d have thought?
But where CP2077 running on the machine is a technically impressive feat, for many it still comes with enough compromises to keep it in the realm of curiosity, rather than a compelling way to play through the entire experience. After an hour or so spent playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2, I’ve come away with the distinct impression that it’ll genuinely be worth owning and playing on Nintendo’s freshly-Rebirthed hardware. And this is based on the game running in handheld mode, no less.
The Switch 2 build of FF7 Remake that I played allowed me to simply fire up the game from the beginning, so in that hour or so I went through the game’s introductory bombing mission sequence and well into events in Midgar’s Sector 8. It’s a segment I’ve played many times before, between early previews prior to the game’s initial PS4 launch, multiple playthroughs across platforms, and the game’s upgraded Intergrade re-release. It’s operating on muscle memory, at this point.
So when I tell you that the Switch 2 port looks and plays incredibly close to the PS4 version, I mean it. Of course, it’s hard to tell without a direct head-to-head and the kind of in depth analysis you’d expect from somewhere like Digital Foundry, but to my eyes the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake might even look better than it does on a PS4. I think back to the game’s earliest launch and I recall sporadically muddy materials and a soft resolve on the base console, and I spotted none of that this go ‘round. Of course the Switch 2’s 7.9” LCD could have just been hiding what I remember seeing on a 65” OLED, but it’s hugely comparable at the very least.
I think the thing that stood out to me immediately is how stable and performant the game is in handheld mode. It’s 30FPS, sure, but it feels wonderfully consistent. Coupled with a nice motion blur treatment, you’d almost mistake it for a higher refresh. FF7 Remake’s opening scenes are a carefully curated tour through some very high-quality environments with a ton of contrast and complex lighting, meant to highlight the glow-up from the PS1 original, but even with that in mind it’s seriously impressive. As I shimmied through alleyways after escaping the reactor explosion, the sharp texture detail on brick walls and sumptuous atmosphere far surpassed anything I’ve seen on the Switch 2 to date.
Perhaps the game does also look decent on some of the gnarlier, more prohibitively expensive PC-based handhelds out there, but there’s something about seeing a game of unmistakable “AAA” quality on a Nintendo Switch that feels surreal. That a blockbuster Final Fantasy, one which I’ve Oooh’d and Ahhh’d at on huge screens plugged into big and expensive consoles, could share real estate with Mario and Donkey Kong in my carry-on bag is truly something else.
If I have any real concern at this stage, it’s probably just with the Switch 2’s control setup. Playing in docked mode with a Pro Controller or the nearest equivalent will no doubt be fine, but the still-tiny Joy-Con 2s maybe aren’t quite up to the task. Final Fantasy VII Remake makes pretty frequent use of the d-pad, which is situated awkwardly on the left Joy-Con in most grip types, requiring a big adjustment of the left thumb and a lot of time away from the left control stick. I fumbled a bit more than I’d like during the intense Scorpion Sentinel boss fight in the Mako Reactor.
The crucial thing is, though, that Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade doesn’t just seem like an impressive Nintendo Switch 2 port that’ll grab headline from gaming and tech outlets praising its proximity to the “real” thing. What’s truly exciting is that this is the real thing, complete and uncompromised. It’s not a matter of settling arguments over what the Switch 2 can and can’t run, it seems like a legitimately viable way to play a great game, whether you’ve been through it before or you’re a Nintendo purist that’s been patiently waiting for your time.
There are still questions left to be answered, especially around the game’s asking price on the Switch 2 – a machine that’s spurned plenty of fresh discourse over video game pricing in general – but this early taste bodes well.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 at on January 22, 2026.
Previewed on Switch 2 at an event hosted by Square Enix
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