Enhanced Technical Features Transform Pokémon Scarlet & Violet on Nintendo Switch 2

I swear, trying to think of a game more bogged down by its own performance issues than the OG Nintendo Switch drop of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Yeah, sure, plenty of games run worse—totally broken disasters—but a solid game that’s wrecked purely by how it chugs along? That’s a tough one.

Anyway, back in 2022, I reviewed the games and called them a “super-effective new vision.” At the same time, I couldn’t ignore how they ran like a clunky old lawnmower. They got famous for those janky stop-motion windmills and far-off cliffs that felt ripped straight from a dusty Nintendo 64. Honestly, with Scarlet & Violet’s smart design and cheery vibe, they deserved way better.

Fast forward three years, and we’ve got the Switch 2 update coming along like a knight in shining armor. Let’s be real—if Scarlet & Violet was awesome in 2022, on the Switch 2? What a freaking barnstormer that’s gonna be.

So, get this: The Pokémon Company invited me to a sneak peek at the polished-up Switch 2 version. Bold move, considering I made quite the racket about the original’s issues. And, man, I was blown away. Literally night and day. For those who say frame rate is no biggie, I double-dare you to play Scarlet & Violet on the Switch 2 and then hop back to the old version. Go ahead. Friend of the site Joe from Serebii makes it clear it’s simply not feasible.

The visuals are crisp, detailed, and running at what seems like a rock-steady 60 fps. Those world elements? No longer a laggy slide show—yep, even those cursed windmills are sorted! But it’s not just about flexing technical prowess. The way this game flows now is so smooth, it’s almost like a different world. Scarlet & Violet were meant to be wanderlust-filled wonderlands, taking cues from Skyrim to Breath of the Wild but in a Pokémon suit. The original’s rocky frame rate was a real buzzkill. Now everything’s silky smooth, and the experience is just magical.

And let’s chat gameplay improvements. Wild Pokémon are popping in, swarming around the vibrant fields without that annoying stutter. No more laggy menu responses or Pokémon Box sprites that load like molasses. Everything’s just snappier, livelier.

Small tweaks, big impact. I mean, battles glide along now without those brutal animation-induced fps drops. Not all sunshine and rainbows, though. The level of detail is still a bit over the top—gallop at those glorious 60 fps and watch flowers pop in like they’re late to the party. Also, on the art style front? Could use some sprucing up. HDR does magic for the colors, though, making Paldea pop with life.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s a win. This is the Scarlet & Violet experience we deserved from day one. Honestly, probably the sharpest main-line Pokémon game ever—definitely in 3D anyway. Playing at 60 fps feels almost illegal, like I’m getting away with something. With smooth-running Pokémon games here, I’m more hyped than ever for this year’s Pokémon Legends Z-A. Bring it on!