Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 — Performance, Features & Verdict

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition was released as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. This is the first time Cyberpunk 2077 has been available on a Nintendo platform. The package includes the full base game plus the Phantom Liberty expansion. It is developed and optimized in-house by CD Projekt RED specifically for Switch 2 hardware. The physical edition ships on a 64 GB game card containing the complete game with no mandatory large download required.

Switch 2 is notable as the first console version to use a form of Nvidia DLSS (powered by the system's Tensor cores). Two graphics modes are available.

Based on Digital Foundry analyses and reviewer impressions from IGN, GameSpot and others. For common performance questions from players, see the FAQ.

The port takes advantage of new Switch 2 hardware capabilities that make it a distinct experience from other platforms.

Digital Foundry's benchmarking of both modes reveals meaningful trade-offs. Quality Mode targets a locked 30 fps at 1080p (docked) and holds that target very consistently through most of the base game — it runs noticeably better than last-gen PS4 in the same scenes. Performance Mode targets 40 fps at a lower internal resolution (roughly 720p docked), which sounds appealing on paper, but the higher ceiling is rarely sustained: heavy shoot-outs, high-speed driving (see our cars comparison for how vehicles stress the engine), and especially Phantom Liberty / Dogtown areas frequently drag the frame rate back toward 30 fps, erasing the advantage. In quiet interior sections Performance Mode is unquestionably smoother, but those moments are the exception rather than the rule.

Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 is the first console game to ship with a form of Nvidia DLSS. CD Projekt RED confirmed that the game uses DLSS across every graphics mode, powered by the machine-learning Tensor cores built into the Switch 2's Nvidia Tegra-derived GPU. The pipeline renders the game at a lower internal resolution and then uses a DLSS neural-network model to reconstruct a sharper, higher-resolution output — effectively turning Tensor-core AI compute into "free" pixels. This is the same conceptual approach as DLSS on GeForce RTX graphics cards, adapted for the console's power envelope.

The Joy-Con 2 can operate as a pointer device natively on Switch 2, and Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the headline titles built around this capability. CD Projekt RED implemented it as a first-class control option rather than a fallback: in the settings you can switch between traditional dual-stick + gyro aiming and a dedicated mouse-style mode where the detached (or slung) Joy-Con 2 tracks movement like a gaming mouse. Both left and right Joy-Cons support the mode, so left-handed players are covered. USB mouse and keyboard input is also recognized by the game on Switch 2, giving an even more PC-like experience at a desk.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is one of the largest titles on the Switch 2 platform. The full install is approximately 64 GB, which consumes roughly one quarter of the console's 256 GB internal storage out of the box. The physical edition ships on a 64 GB Switch 2 game card — the maximum cartridge capacity Nintendo currently offers — and runs directly from the cartridge, so a physical copy does not eat into your internal or microSD storage for the base install. Digital purchases install to internal storage or a microSD card; CD Projekt RED and third-party manufacturers recommend high-speed microSD Express cards (up to 880 MB/s read) for best loading performance. A small "Switch 2 Welcome Tour" add-on of around 2 GB is installed separately.

Generally very positive critical and player reception for a port of this ambition. Players can dive into every quest and reach any of the endings without compromise on this version.

• Praised as one of the strongest technical showcases for Switch 2 at launch.
• Reviewers note it is not equivalent to high-end PC or PS5/Series X versions, but delivers a fully playable, complete Cyberpunk 2077 experience in both docked and handheld modes.
• Common praise: visual fidelity relative to hardware, mouse controls, completeness of the package (base game + PL on one cartridge).
• Common caveats: Frame-rate consistency in the most demanding scenarios and denser Phantom Liberty areas.
• CD Projekt RED has stated they are "very happy" with sales performance on the platform.
• Overall: A strong and fully featured option for players who want to explore Night City on the go, follow in the footsteps of the Edgerunners, or prefer Nintendo's ecosystem.