The galaxy far, far away is coming to Nintendo’s newest console, but not without turbulence. Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s ambitious open-world adventure, launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4, 2025. Yet early hands-on impressions suggest the Force isn’t particularly strong with this version of the game.
Bumpy Start for the Switch 2 Version
Attendees at PAX West who tried the Switch 2 demo walked away unimpressed. Reports described frame rate drops dipping below 30 FPS, even in areas that weren’t graphically intense—like Star Destroyer hallways or small-scale space skirmishes.
Other flagged issues included:
- Noticeable texture downgrades compared to other platforms
- Inconsistent resolution between docked and handheld modes
- General sluggishness that dampened the otherwise cinematic feel
Considering Switch 2’s beefed-up specs and its surprisingly solid handling of graphically demanding ports like Cyberpunk 2077, the Outlaws demo felt like a step back.
How Outlaws Landed Elsewhere
The disappointment is amplified when looking at how Star Wars Outlaws has fared on other platforms.
When it launched in 2024 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, reception was cautiously optimistic. Players praised the game’s sprawling open world, engaging storylines, and cinematic presentation. The ability to hop from planetside missions to space dogfights seamlessly was a standout feature.
Still, it wasn’t all smooth hyperspace travel. Early criticism targeted:
- Clunky stealth mechanics, which made infiltration missions frustrating.
- Repetitive side content, with some feeling padded rather than purposeful.
- Performance dips on consoles, though not nearly as harsh as what’s being reported for Switch 2.
Ubisoft responded with patches that smoothed out stealth gameplay and added more variety in side missions. The release of the A Pirate’s Fortune DLC—starring fan-favorite Hondo Ohnaka—helped rebuild momentum. By 2025, Outlaws had carved out a niche as a solid, if imperfect, addition to the Star Wars video game lineup.
Why the Switch 2 Struggles Hit Harder
Given that the Switch 2 has impressed with other major titles, seeing Outlaws stumble so badly raises questions. Is this a case of rushed optimization to hit the September release date? Or is the game’s open-world ambition simply too much for the platform right now?
The hardware is capable—no one doubts that after seeing how well it handled visually intense games like Cyberpunk 2077. But if Ubisoft doesn’t tighten up performance before release, Outlaws risks becoming one of the Switch 2’s first high-profile disappointments.
What Comes Next
The big unknown is whether day-one patches or post-launch updates can salvage the Switch 2 experience. Ubisoft has shown it’s willing to iterate and improve, but first impressions matter—and early previews are setting a low bar.
For fans eager to explore the underworld of the galaxy on the go, hope remains that Ubisoft can push performance closer to parity with other platforms. Until then, cautious optimism—and maybe a bit of skepticism—seems the safest bet.
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