Hogwarts Legacy has quickly established itself as one of the most beloved RPGs set in the wizarding world, captivating gamers on powerful hardware like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. However, many fans have eagerly awaited the game’s arrival on Nintendo consoles. With the release announcement for the Nintendo Switch 2, excitement around Hogwarts Legacy’s graphical potential on this new hardware compared to the original Switch is at an all-time high. In this detailed graphics comparison, we dive deep into the early glimpses of Hogwarts Legacy running on both the Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Switch.
The first impressions indicate a significant visual leap between the two systems. Hogwarts Legacy on the original Nintendo Switch struggles under the constraints of its hardware, resulting in noticeable graphical compromises. Textures appear substantially downgraded, with lower-resolution assets causing some environments to look flat and less immersive. Character models, while recognizable, lose much of their intricate detail, reducing facial expressions and clothing textures. Lighting effects and shadows are simplified to maintain consistent performance, impacting the atmospheric feel crucial to the Hogwarts experience.
In contrast, early showcases of Hogwarts Legacy on the Nintendo Switch 2 tell a different story altogether. The upgraded hardware significantly enhances the game’s visual fidelity, bringing it closer to the experiences found on higher-end consoles. Textures are markedly improved, boasting higher resolutions that highlight detailed stonework in Hogwarts Castle, intricate patterns in character clothing, and realistic surfaces on magical creatures. The Switch 2’s increased GPU power allows for enhanced character models, providing richer animations, smoother facial expressions, and lifelike hair and clothing physics.
Lighting and shadow effects, which are central to the ambiance of Hogwarts, see considerable improvements on the Nintendo Switch 2. Dynamic lighting creates more realistic environments, with sunlight filtering authentically through castle windows and casting precise, soft-edged shadows. Nighttime scenes especially benefit from the hardware upgrade, as torchlight flickers convincingly, contributing to a more immersive atmosphere.
Performance comparisons further emphasize the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2. Hogwarts Legacy on the original Switch often targets a lower frame rate, hovering around 30fps with occasional dips, especially in more demanding areas like densely populated locations or during intense spellcasting battles. The Nintendo Switch 2, however, consistently delivers a more stable performance, aiming for a smoother and steadier frame rate that maintains closer to 60fps, significantly enhancing gameplay fluidity and responsiveness.