According to an analysis by Digital Foundry, Persona 3 Reload on Nintendo Switch 2 shows measurable technical improvements between patch 1.00 and patch 1.03, though several limitations remain. While the update does not fundamentally redefine the port, it addresses some of the most visible issues present at launch and results in a noticeably smoother experience overall.
When Persona 3 Reload launched on Switch 2, expectations were relatively high. The hardware is significantly more capable than the original Switch, and the game itself is not especially demanding compared to other modern Unreal Engine titles. Despite this, version 1.00 arrived with clear performance shortcomings, particularly when compared with other platforms. Digital Foundry’s analysis highlights that patch 1.03 represents Atlus’ first serious attempt to stabilize the experience.
The most important improvement comes in the area of frame pacing. At launch, Persona 3 Reload targeted 30 FPS, but frame delivery was inconsistent. Rather than maintaining a steady cadence, the game suffered from uneven frame times that resulted in frequent judder. This issue was present in both docked and handheld modes and negatively affected traversal, camera movement, and general responsiveness.
Patch 1.03 largely resolves this problem. Digital Foundry reports that the game now holds a stable 30 FPS with consistent pacing, eliminating the erratic delivery seen in patch 1.00. This change significantly improves how the game feels in motion. Camera pans are smoother, movement feels more controlled, and overall presentation is far more coherent. Handheld mode benefits just as much as docked play, bringing consistency across both configurations.
Image quality, however, remains unchanged. Both patch versions render at a fixed 1080p in all modes, including handheld play. Visual settings are identical across docked and handheld operation, with no additional enhancements to take advantage of increased performance headroom when docked. Anti-aliasing behavior is also unchanged, resulting in relatively raw edge treatment compared to titles that use more advanced temporal techniques.
Patch 1.03 does introduce a new performance mode, available in docked play. This optional mode targets 60 FPS and generally operates in the high 50s, with dips mainly occurring in dense city or school environments. Dungeon exploration and interior scenes benefit the most, offering a noticeably smoother experience than the standard 30 FPS mode.
The trade-off is reduced visual fidelity. Shadow resolution is lowered, ambient occlusion appears to be removed, and overall scene depth is diminished. Resolution remains fixed at 1080p, with no dynamic scaling or reconstruction in use. Input latency sees modest improvement in performance mode due to the higher frame rate, though handheld play remains locked to 30 FPS with no equivalent option.
Overall, Digital Foundry concludes that patch 1.03 makes Persona 3 Reload on Switch 2 significantly more playable than version 1.00. While the update fixes the most disruptive issues and adds meaningful choice, the port still feels conservative in its use of the hardware, leaving noticeable untapped potential.
