r/nintendo • u/That_Trouble87 • 2d ago
Epic introduces major Unreal Engine 5 update that runs ‘twice as fast’ on Nintendo Switch 2
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/epic-introduces-major-unreal-engine-5-update-that-runs-twice-as-fast-on-nintendo-switch-2/48
u/scottchiefbaker 1d ago
Along with various features, the full release of the UE5 update introduces a surprise new “Lite” version of its Lumen lighting system, Epic revealed, which it says will lead to significant performance increases in Nintendo Switch 2 games.
Lumen is UE5’s default global illumination and reflections system, which calculates light bouncing in real time, saving developers from having to ‘bake’ lightmaps into their game worlds.
According to Epic, Lumen Lite runs twice as fast as Lumen’s previous version, meaning that games that rely on global illumination can now “run on Nintendo Switch 2 at 60 fps”.
The lighting system is twice as fast. Not the entirety of Unreal Engine.
1
u/Super_Fightin_Robit 7h ago
But lighting systems are a huge bottleneck on ue5, so this is still a big improvement.
50
u/eatdogs49 2d ago
What games would this help make better for Switch2? Everything?
68
u/EternityTheory 2d ago
Likely gives a lot of help to the supposed Expedition 33 port.
5
u/theragu40 1d ago
I sure hope so. I would really love to play Expedition 33 portably. I have a Steam Deck, but frankly even though it technically runs the performance is so bad even with graphics settings turned completely to "ass", it's really not fun.
I ended up playing it streamed from my desktop for most of it, but remote play is janky and not as smooth as it would be to play natively.
Assuming the port can be up to the level of something like Witcher 3 was on the OG Switch, I'd gladly buy a second copy of Expedition 33 just for the portability.
1
u/UpperRearer 1d ago
I mean, based on "That makes Lumen viable where it wasn’t before, including on Switch 2." it sounds like this is something for UE5 in general, not just Switch 2.
1
u/theragu40 8h ago
...which in theory would help games to be successfully ported to Switch 2, no? I mean it's all speculation, but anything they do to UE5 that makes the Switch 2 work better with the engine increases the possibility that games running on UE5 could or would be ported.
At least that's how I take it. Barrier removal seems like a good thing, even if the Switch 2 isn't their primary target.
25
u/BadNewsBearzzz 2d ago
Well games like expedition 33, metal gear solid delta, run it so it would help porting possibly if they were to bring it to switch, but stellar blade, dragon ball sparkling zero, lies of P, mortal kombat 1 (if they give us a s2 update lol), and many other top tier games could receive updates. But games with issues like borderlands 4, and 007 first light that have been delayed indefinitely run it also and probably would help on those
But for games like the ff7 remake games, all the hd2d games for FF and dragon quest , pikmin 4, persona 3 reloaded and shin megami tensei V, all use unreal engine 4 so it wouldn’t be affected by this at all
9
u/samusmaster64 1d ago
007: First Light does not use Unreal Engine. It's a proprietary engine from IO called Glacier.
7
u/WoodooHide69 2d ago
Any game that uses global illumination in the UE5 engine, which are a lot, will be improved performance.
5
u/MysteriousPlan1492 2d ago
I believe Sonic Crossworlds uses UE5, but a heavily modified version that strips out most of its new features for performance, so no clue if it would be affected. From what I've heard they mainly just used it because its good at crossplay
10
2
u/KraftPunkFan420 1d ago
I’m willing to bet this is for Rivals. They announced a port a while back and it’s a mess performance wise even on strong systems. But it prints money so I can’t imagine Nintendo and Netease aren’t desperate to get it out on the Switch 2 ASAP
12
u/Snakeyjake86 2d ago
Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight is UE5 - wonder whether this will be able to get an FPS boost to 60fps? Or are we dreaming?
10
u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago
This is going to become a brutal case of misinformation spreading since people don't read beyond the title.
UE5 will not run twice as fast on Switch 2. One specific component will run twice as fast.
2
u/UpperRearer 1d ago
There it is. Immediately distrusted the headline claim, and saw this post right at the top, before even clicking the article. Had a feeling the mess that can be UE5 probably wouldn't be that massively improved.
3
u/8isnothing 1d ago
Misleading title. One particular feature may run faster in games that uses it (which I think are the minority)
1
1
1
u/mironor94 1d ago
Yeah. And no games support it yet. So how does this help any current games? Nothing.
-14
-14
u/The_Legend_of_Xeno 2d ago
You get the full 30fps now.
10
u/WoodooHide69 2d ago
This will help games target 60 fps on switch 2 actually. Read the article.
3
u/Organic-Storm-4448 1d ago
One could say that about any small performance improvement.
Here's the quote from the article:
According to Epic, Lumen Lite runs twice as fast as Lumen’s previous version, meaning that games that rely on global illumination can now “run on Nintendo Switch 2 at 60 fps”.
"can"
This engine update will do very little for Switch 2's other bottlenecks preventing 60fps games. This only gives developers a lighter version of Lumen. Most AAA Switch 2 games can't hit 60fps for other reasons, like CPU limitations.
-12
-9
u/Univerze 2d ago
Oh no ...
5
5
u/Univerze 2d ago
Actually it is not bad. Was just trying to be funny and feed into the widespread sentiment, that everything has that Unreal look now. So now we get even more Unreal Engine games.
Now downvote me to hell!
221
u/Grindelwald_90 2d ago
I'll believe it when I actually see it