"Final Fantasy VII Rebirth" is a real treat on the Switch 2 too – albeit a blurry one
2-6-2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Kevin Hofer
More than two years after its release on the PlayStation 5, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. Despite technical limitations, the game is great fun.
«To call Final Fantasy VII Rebirth» a content bonanza would be an understatement. The game offers so much that my colleague Cassie Mammone has written about the flood of mini-games wrote about the flood of mini-games. I see it differently. The many games within the game are all brilliant. And I don’t have to play them to excess.
But it’s not just the side content in «Rebirth» that’s strong. The same goes for the story, gameplay and presentation. That’s why I wrote in my review: «The game is close to perfection». I still stand by that two years later.
I’ve already spent a few hours with the Switch 2 version. I won’t be providing a second full review. Instead, I’ll tell you what «Rebirth» does well on the Switch 2 and where you’ll have to make compromises. Everything else is tested in the original review.
What the Switch 2 version does well
The good news first: The game essentially feels like «Rebirth». That’s not a given. The Switch 2 is significantly less powerful than the PS5.
Puddles, glossy and reflective surfaces look neat. Distant elements such as airships, waterfalls and windmills are correctly animated and cast appropriate dynamic shadows. Object physics and NPC density are also impressive.
Where you have to make compromises
From a distance, NPC animations occasionally freeze. Characters then remain in static poses. This is annoying, but not a deal-breaker. It’s more of a problem up close: textures often look muddy, and ground surfaces are heavily compressed. This applies to both cutscenes and gameplay. It occurred in places on the PS5 too. On the Switch 2, it’s much more noticeable.
Loading times are also a topic. Whereas there was hardly any waiting time on the PS5, it’s significantly longer here. I never get bored, mind you, but I’m used to something different from Sony’s console and the PC.
The shadows are also causing problems. Their range is noticeably shorter. Transitions close to the camera are noticeable and cause visible flickering. In places like Kalm, the vegetation often remains static. Interiors feel emptier: fewer books, fewer props, less life. Nevertheless, everything remains recognisable.
In the open areas, there are further limitations. Water is rendered in a simplified manner. The pop-in, which was already present on the PS5, is even more pronounced here. On a large 4K screen, some low-polygon objects stand out unpleasantly, such as fruit, vegetables and other small items.
Why this is the case
Game director Naoki Hamaguchi explained in an interview with Digital Foundry why these compromises were necessary: «Rebirth’s» open world generates a significantly higher number of meshes than the tightly structured «remake», the first part of the remake trilogy. A stable 30 fps could therefore not simply be achieved through adjustments to post-processing and fog. For the Switch 2, the developers have completely rebuilt the background models, with revised LOD levels and more efficient materials. Mesh shading plays a crucial role here. It allows the renderer to control the processing of the geometry more efficiently. In short: the effort involved was considerable, and it’s clear that the developers have invested a lot of time in the port.
Resolution and image quality
In docked mode, the game targets 1080p. However, the internal resolution can drop as low as 540p. In handheld mode, the target is 756p, with a minimum of 380p. Both modes use the same graphics settings. In docked mode, it still looks decent. In handheld mode, the image is noticeably softer and less stable. Cloud’s hair and Chocobo feathers suffer from dithering and reconstruction artefacts. The gap between this and the near-4K display on the PS5 is vast. There’s no sugar-coating it.
Performance
The game largely maintains the target 30 FPS. However, there are occasional drops and stutters. That sounds sobering, but for such a vast open-world title on portable hardware, it is within the expected range.
«Final Fantasy VII Rebirth» is already available for PC and PS5. Versions for Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S will follow on 3 June. I tested the Switch 2 version, which was provided to me by Square Enix.
In a nutshell
Dive back into the world of "Rebirth" before part 3
A story full of exciting twists and turns with an ingenious production. Gameplay that is addictive. A world full of life. "Final Fantasy VII Rebirth" is a blast - even two years after its original release.
The Switch 2 version is a remarkable port. All the content is included and the game is easy to play. The limitations in resolution, textures and rendering are sometimes clearly visible. But they don't destroy what makes the game special. It is impressive what is possible on a portable console today. I hardly played "Rebirth" on the Steam Deck because it's a bad experience. The Switch 2 has the edge here and I'll definitely play the main story all the way through again. So that I'm ready for part three. Because there are increasing signs that it could soon be that time.
Pro
- good porting for Switch 2
- Ingenious story staging
- Lively game world
- Strong side missions
- Impressive mini-games
Contra
- (few) tedious gameplay elements
- Weak NPC quality
- Visual compromises compared to the PS5 version
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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