Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from Star Wars Outlaws on Nintendo Switch 2. Especially after hearing bad reports from PAX West, I figured we’d get another port that barely works. However, a 40-minute gameplay leak just hit YouTube, and it’s giving us the most detailed look yet at this highly anticipated port. Surprisingly, I was totally wrong. This looks way better than it should.
How Does Star Wars Outlaws Look on Nintendo Switch 2?
Here’s what shocked me – the game actually looks smooth. I know you’ve seen news of lots of big Switch ports that promise everything, but end up being a mess, like let’s say, Xenoblade. Watching this leak from YouTuber mataleao, Star Wars Outlaws keeps its frame rate steady even when you’re flying through huge areas or even dealing with multiple NPCs.
Of course, it might not look as pretty as the PlayStation 5 version. You’re not getting the same lighting quality or texture detail you’d see there. But honestly? That’s fine if I can play this huge game anywhere I want.
Why The PAX West Reports Were Probably Wrong
This is the summary of PAX West impressions of Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2:
- Performance was described as “rough” and “particularly disappointing” with frame rates regularly dropping below 30 FPS.
- Recording was completely banned – no direct capture or over-the-shoulder filming was allowed, suggesting major issues.
- Only linear Star Destroyer sections were shown, not the open-world gameplay, and visuals looked flat with poor character lighting.
The media people at PAX West who said it ran badly were probably playing an old version. That’s my theory, and even people who have now watched the leaked gameplay feel the same way. The difference between what they described and what we’re seeing in this leak is actually huge. So, either they fixed a lot of things, or the PAX demo just wasn’t ready.
The Big Question: What About Handheld Mode?
Now, the gameplay might look good, but a lot of people’s concern is the handheld mode. This leaked footage only shows docked gameplay. But great news – Mataleao just dropped handheld footage too! And honestly, it’s impressive how well it runs.
The performance is basically the same as docked mode. You get the same smooth gameplay, which is amazing for a game this big running in portable mode. The only real differences are shorter draw distances for far-away objects and less detailed grass and plants, but that’s totally expected.
What really matters for a Nintendo system is the handheld mode. If Star Wars Outlaws runs well and can maintain a decent performance in portable mode, then Ubisoft did something amazing!
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Based on this leaked footage, I’m actually excited about Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2. Yes, you’re getting a less pretty version than other consoles. But you’re also getting the full game in portable form, and from what I can see, it runs well enough to be enjoyable. Plus, the fact that you can switch your save between consoles is also a nice bonus!
Now that we’ve seen both docked and handheld footage, this looks like one of the better big ports coming to Switch 2. If you love Star Wars and want to play anywhere, this leak shows you probably won’t be let down. The game comes out September 4, 2025, so be ready!
