Skyrim on Switch 2 finally hits 60 FPS two months after release

Two months after the controversial launch of the cult RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2 hybrid console, Bethesda released a long-awaited update aimed at rectifying the disastrous performance situation. The patch added two graphics modes: a performance mode with a target frame rate of 60 frames per second and a quality mode with enhanced graphics at 30 frames per second.

Recall that when the game launched late last year, users encountered a glaring problem: the nearly fifteen-year-old title performed dismally on the new Nintendo console. The frame rate dropped below 30, and input lag reached levels that made play virtually impossible. For a game that runs smoothly on smartphones and toasters, such optimizations seemed like a real travesty to fans.

The first tests of the updated version show that the game now truly delivers on its stated performance, albeit at the cost of significant compromises. Running at 60 frames per second comes at a significant cost to draw distance, resolution, and other graphical details, which is especially noticeable on a larger screen.