The jump from a handheld that’s basically running on 2015-era mobile tech to whatever Nintendo has cooking next is the biggest conversation in gaming right now. Honestly, it’s about time. While the original Switch gave us masterpieces like Tears of the Kingdom, it’s struggling to breathe when faced with massive, open-world heavy hitters built for modern hardware. That brings us to the big question: can we actually expect to see Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 happen, or is it just wishful thinking from fans who want to play as Kay Vess on the bus?
Ubisoft’s latest foray into a galaxy far, far away is a beast. Built on the Snowdrop engine—the same tech powering The Division and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora—it’s a demanding game. It leans heavily on ray-traced global illumination and massive, seamless transitions from planet surfaces to orbit. On a standard PS5, it’s already pushing the limits. So, when people talk about a Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 port, they aren't just talking about a simple resolution bump. They’re talking about whether Nintendo’s next silicon can handle a world that wasn't designed with mobile constraints in mind.
The Technical Reality of Snowdrop on Nintendo Hardware
Let’s get real about the hardware for a second. The rumors regarding the Switch 2 (or whatever Nintendo eventually calls it) suggest a leap to something roughly equivalent to a portable PlayStation 4 Pro, but with the massive advantage of NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). This is the "secret sauce." Without DLSS, a Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 version would likely look like a blurry mess. With it, the console could theoretically upscale a lower-resolution image to look crisp on a 1080p handheld screen or a 4K TV.
Ubisoft has a history here. They’ve been one of Nintendo’s most loyal third-party supporters, often porting games that people thought were impossible. Look at Mario + Rabbids—that’s Snowdrop engine. Look at Starlink: Battle for Atlas. They know how to scale this engine. But Outlaws is a different animal than a turn-based strategy game. It features dense cities like Mirogana, where the NPC count and the sheer amount of clutter on screen would make the current Switch explode.
If the Switch 2 features the rumored 12GB of RAM (up from the paltry 4GB in the current model), the dream of Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 starts looking a lot more like a reality. Memory is usually the biggest bottleneck for open-world ports. You need space to store those textures and keep the world loaded as you speed across the Toshara savannas on a literal hoverbike.
📖 Related: Dark Deception Enhanced Plus: What Glow-Up Fans Actually Get
Why a Delay Might Be a Good Thing
Ubisoft hasn't officially confirmed the game for Nintendo's next platform yet. That's standard. Nintendo is notoriously secretive, and third-party devs usually can't say a word until the "big N" does the grand unveiling. However, the timing is suspicious. With Star Wars Outlaws having launched on other platforms in late 2024, a 2025 or 2026 "Deluxe" or "Complete Edition" for the Switch 2 launch window makes too much sense from a business perspective.
Think about the sales.
Nintendo fans are hungry for "impossible ports." Whenever a big AAA game hits a Nintendo console, it tends to sell remarkably well because of the novelty of portability. If Ubisoft waits until the Switch 2 has a decent install base—or uses it as a launch-year flagship—they can capture a whole new audience that doesn't own a PS5 or a beefy PC.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Next Gen" Ports
There’s this misconception that a Switch 2 port would just be a "low settings" version of the PC game. That’s rarely how it works. For a Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 version to actually be playable, Ubisoft’s Massive Entertainment would have to rebuild specific assets. We're talking about simplified geometry for distant mountains, reduced volumetric fog, and maybe fewer "womp rats" scurrying around the markets.
It’s a balancing act.
If you strip too much away, you lose the "vibe" of Star Wars. The grime, the neon, the steam coming off the vents—that's what makes Outlaws feel like the Original Trilogy. If the Switch 2 can’t preserve that aesthetic, it might be better off as a cloud version. But let’s be honest: nobody actually likes cloud gaming on Switch. We want the code running on the metal.
Comparing the Options: Steam Deck vs. Switch 2
We can actually look at the Steam Deck for a preview of how Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 might perform. On the Deck, Outlaws is... a struggle. It runs, but you're looking at low settings and a shaky 30 frames per second. However, the Switch 2 is expected to have a more modern NVIDIA architecture compared to the Deck's AMD setup. Specifically, NVIDIA’s tensor cores allow for better AI upscaling. This could actually give the Nintendo version an edge in image clarity over the Steam Deck, even if the raw horsepower is similar.
It's kooky to think about, right? A Nintendo handheld potentially outperforming a dedicated gaming PC handheld in specific scenarios because of better upscaling tech. That’s the power of the NVIDIA partnership.
The "Ubisoft Forward" Factor
Keep an eye on future Ubisoft Forward events. Historically, Ubisoft loves to announce their Nintendo "surprises" during these showcases. If we don't hear about Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 by the time the console is officially revealed to the public, that might be the time to worry. But given the engine's scalability and Ubisoft's desire to recoup development costs on a massive project, it’s a safer bet to assume it’s coming than to assume it isn't.
There's also the matter of the "Massive" pedigree. Massive Entertainment, the devs behind the game, aren't just some random studio. They are technical wizards. They managed to make The Division look incredible even on older hardware. They aren't going to put out a port that looks like a slideshow unless they absolutely have to.
Breaking Down the Rumors
- Release Window: Most insiders point toward a late 2025 or early 2026 window for the port.
- Performance Targets: Expect a solid 30 FPS. 60 FPS in a world this detailed on a handheld is probably a pipe dream.
- Storage: This is a big one. Outlaws is roughly 65GB to 90GB depending on the platform. Switch 2 cartridges will need to be much larger than the current 32GB maximum to avoid those annoying "additional download required" stickers.
The move to the Switch 2 isn't just about graphics. It’s about the CPU. The current Switch uses an ARM Cortex-A57 based chip. It's old. It's slow. It handles the complex AI of a living Star Wars city like a toddler trying to solve multivariable calculus. The new chip should allow for more reactive NPCs and a more "alive" world, which is a huge part of the Outlaws experience.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Prospective Buyers
If you’re holding out for Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2, don't buy the game on another platform just yet if you value portability above all else. However, be realistic. This won't be the "best" way to play the game in terms of visual fidelity. It will be the "best" way to play it while lying in bed or sitting on a plane.
- Monitor Official Nintendo Directs: Nintendo usually controls the messaging for their new hardware and the games coming to it.
- Check for "Cross-Progression": Ubisoft is great about this. If you start the game on PC or Xbox now, there's a very high chance your save will carry over to a Switch 2 version later via Ubisoft Connect.
- Manage Storage Expectations: If you plan on going digital, start looking into high-speed MicroSD cards (UHS-II or better) as the next console will likely support faster read speeds to accommodate these massive open worlds.
The existence of a Star Wars Outlaws Nintendo Switch 2 port would be a massive win for the console's library. It signals that Nintendo is finally back in the conversation for major third-party AAA titles without them needing to be "miracle ports" that barely function. We’re moving into an era where "Nintendo version" doesn't have to mean "inferior version," just "different trade-offs."
🔗 Read more: The South Lomei Prophecy: How to Actually Solve the TotK Labyrinth Quest
Stay tuned to the official Ubisoft and Nintendo social channels. The second that logo appears next to a Nintendo red background, you’ll know the wait was worth it. For now, we wait for the hardware to catch up to the ambition.