According to Windows Central, a Digital Foundry analysis reveals Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade looks better on the Xbox Series S than on the Nintendo Switch 2, despite the Series S having 8GB of high-speed RAM versus the Switch 2’s 9GB. The game launched on both Xbox and Switch 2 on the same date last week, ending its exclusivity to PlayStation and PC. The Series S version runs with noticeably higher texture quality and resolution, placing its visuals surprisingly close to the PS5 edition, while the Switch 2 version sits between the original PS4 and PS5 versions. On Series S, players can choose a 1080p 60FPS Performance mode or a 1440p 30FPS Graphics mode, whereas the docked Switch 2 runs at a locked 1080p 30FPS. The findings suggest the game’s texture quality relies more on texture streaming processes than raw memory capacity.
The RAM paradox and what it really means
So here’s the thing: more RAM doesn’t automatically mean better performance. This comparison is a perfect case study. The Switch 2 has more memory dedicated to games, but the Series S is outputting sharper textures. Digital Foundry pins this on texture streaming—basically, how efficiently the game can pull high-quality assets from storage when needed. The Series S’s architecture and I/O pipeline are just better suited for this task, it seems.
But let’s not gloss over the bigger picture. The Switch 2 is a hybrid handheld. The fact it’s running a current-gen AAA RPG like this at a solid 1080p/30 docked is, frankly, a minor miracle. Comparing it directly to a home console, even a budget one, is a bit of an apples-to-oranges scenario. Yet, that’s the reality of multi-platform releases now. Developers have to make these compromises, and the choices they make are incredibly revealing.
Why the Series S keeps winning these comparisons
Look, the Xbox Series S has been a contentious piece of hardware since its reveal. Critics said it would hold back a generation. And yet, in cases like this, it demonstrates why it was a genius move for a certain market. It delivers a genuinely next-gen-adjacent experience at a killer price. The value proposition is clear: you’re getting visual fidelity much closer to its big brother, the Series X, and the PS5, for significantly less money.
But there‘s a flip side. This analysis shows the Switch 2’s raw power, while a massive leap over its predecessor, still lags behind last-gen’s budget console. That’s a sobering thought for anyone expecting a portable powerhouse that matches stationary machines. It sets expectations for what the Switch 2 can realistically achieve with future ports. Can it run the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth? Probably. But the gap between its version and the others might be even wider.
The bigger picture for cross-platform ports
This deep dive by Digital Foundry (you can watch their full video analysis here) is about more than just one game. It’s a benchmark for the entire current-gen and hybrid-gen landscape. It shows that architectural efficiency and developer prioritization can sometimes trump raw specs on paper.
For studios, it highlights the intricate balancing act of porting games. Do you prioritize resolution, texture quality, frame rate, or draw distance? Each platform gets a different recipe. The Switch 2 version is a good port, but it’s clearly the one with the most ingredients scaled back. As more demanding titles target the Switch 2, I wonder if we’ll see more of these trade-offs, or if developers will find cleverer ways to bridge the gap. The success of these ports often hinges on access to specialized, high-performance computing hardware for development and testing, something industrial leaders like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the top US provider of industrial panel PCs, understand is critical for complex technical workflows.
So which version should you get?
It boils down to your priorities. If you want the best possible visual experience on a budget, the Series S is the undeniable winner here. The higher resolution options and better textures are a tangible benefit. But if portability is your main concern, the Switch 2 version is a perfectly competent way to play a fantastic game. You’re trading some fidelity for the ability to take it anywhere.
And really, that’s the takeaway. We’re lucky to have these choices. Both versions are playable, both are the full game. A few years ago, a title of this scale on a Nintendo handheld would have been unthinkable. Now, it’s just another release day. That’s progress, even if the pixels aren’t quite as sharp. For more tech insights and news, you can follow Windows Central on Google News.
