Warhorse Studios action role-playing game, Kingdom Come Deliverance, is now available for the Nintendo Switch, and if you’re wondering how it compares to the Xbox One version, read ahead.
In terms visual settings, the Nintendo Switch version of Kingdom Come Deliverance exhibits less environmental and facial detail compared to the Xbox One version. Screen Space Reflection (SSR) quality on large water surfaces is largely on par across both consoles. Additionally, there are graphical features, like Parallax Occlusion Mapping (POM) and Sparse Voxel Octree Global Illumination (SVOGI), found in the Switch version of Kingdom Come Deliverance that aren’t present on Xbox One.
In terms of image quality, the Nintendo Switch version of Kingdom Come Deliverance runs at a resolution of dynamic 720p in docked mode, which drops down to 540p in taxing situations. On the other hand, the Xbox One version also runs at a dynamic resolution, typically sticking to 900p. A form of sharpening is applied to the Switch image on grassy elements or the silhouette of distant trees. This sometimes results in over-sharpening of the image during daytime instances.
In terms of performance, both the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One versions of Kingdom Come Deliverance target a frame rate of 30 fps. While the Xbox One version largely maintains the target, the frame rate in the Switch version can be highly variable, often hovering in the 20s or even lower when visiting towns or engaging in battle. Broad, open areas with limited NPCs in view do a better job of meeting the target performance. However, frame pacing issues persist at all times in the Switch version.
In terms of load times, the Nintendo Switch version of Kingdom Come Deliverance offers an improvement over the Xbox One version, loading over a minute quicker in certain cases.
All in all, the Nintendo Switch port of Kingdom Come Deliverance is a valiant effort from porting studio Saber Interactive to strike a balance between visuals and performance. Still, we’d like to see some graphical cutbacks so that the game can deliver a more consistent frame rate.
