Optimizing for the hardware, not just squeezing onto it
In the long conversation between technological ambition and physical constraint, MachineGames has offered a thoughtful answer: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 at 1080p docked and 720p handheld, both at 30 frames per second, aided by Nvidia's DLSS upscaling. The announcement is less about a single game and more about what it means when a major studio treats a portable device as a serious platform rather than an afterthought. It is a moment that asks whether the gap between handheld convenience and AAA ambition is finally narrowing into something players can live with.
- A flagship AAA title from the studio behind Doom and Wolfenstein is coming to Switch 2, and the technical targets reveal just how much the hardware has grown up.
- The 30fps ceiling raises immediate questions for players accustomed to 60fps on other platforms, creating tension between portability and performance expectations.
- MachineGames is deploying DLSS upscaling rather than simply gutting the game's visuals, signaling a deliberate and sophisticated approach to the hardware's real constraints.
- The first-person perspective adds pressure — this genre punishes inconsistent frame rates more than most, making the 30fps choice a calculated bet on stability over speed.
- These specs are quietly becoming a benchmark: if this studio can do it at this quality, other major publishers now have fewer excuses to ignore the platform.
- The real question landing now is not whether Switch 2 can run big games, but whether the market will reward the studios willing to do the hard work of bringing them there.
MachineGames has revealed how Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will perform on Nintendo Switch 2: 1080p when docked, 720p in handheld mode, both running at 30 frames per second. To reach those targets, the studio is using DLSS, Nvidia's upscaling technology that renders at lower resolution and intelligently reconstructs detail — a choice that signals genuine investment in the platform rather than a rushed port.
The stakes are higher than a single game. MachineGames built the Doom reboot and the Wolfenstein series — titles that demand serious processing power. Bringing work of that scale to Switch 2 at these specifications suggests the hardware occupies a meaningful middle ground: more capable than its predecessor, but still requiring developers to make smart, deliberate trade-offs. The 30fps target is conservative by modern standards, but it prioritizes visual stability over raw speed.
The use of DLSS is particularly telling. Rather than stripping assets or cutting features, the studio is using upscaling to preserve visual quality while managing heat and battery life — the kind of technical care that separates a thoughtful port from a careless one. The first-person perspective compounds the challenge, since that camera style demands consistent frame rates more urgently than third-person games do, making the 30fps decision a calculated choice about how people actually play on portable hardware.
Looking ahead, these specifications are likely to function as a reference point for the industry. The original Switch taught players to accept lower resolutions if the game was worth playing. Switch 2 appears to be raising that floor — not matching PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, but offering enough capability that compromises feel like reasonable trade-offs. Whether other major studios follow MachineGames' lead now depends on whether the market proves the effort worthwhile.
MachineGames has pulled back the curtain on how Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will run on Nintendo Switch 2, and the numbers tell a story about what the next-generation handheld can actually do. The game is targeting 1080p resolution when the Switch 2 is docked to a television, dropping to 720p when played in handheld mode, with both configurations running at 30 frames per second. To hit those targets, the studio is leaning on DLSS—Nvidia's upscaling technology that renders games at lower resolution and intelligently fills in detail—a technical choice that signals how seriously third-party developers are taking the hardware's potential.
The reveal matters because Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is not a small indie experiment. It's a major AAA release from a studio known for the Doom reboot and Wolfenstein games, titles that demand real processing power. Bringing a game of that scale to Switch 2 with those specifications suggests the hardware sits in a meaningful middle ground—more capable than the original Switch, but still requiring developers to make smart compromises. The 30 frames-per-second target is notably conservative compared to the 60fps standard on other platforms, but it's a choice that prioritizes visual fidelity and stability over raw speed.
What's particularly telling is the use of DLSS. Rather than simply scaling down assets or cutting features, MachineGames is using upscaling technology to maintain visual quality while keeping the system from overheating or draining battery life too quickly. This is the kind of technical sophistication that separates a competent port from a thoughtful one. The developer isn't just squeezing the game onto the hardware—they're optimizing it for the specific constraints of a portable device that needs to work both docked and undocked.
The specifications also set a baseline for what players and publishers should expect going forward. If a studio the size of MachineGames can bring a modern, first-person action game to Switch 2 at these resolutions and frame rates, it opens the door for other major publishers to consider the platform seriously. The original Switch proved that players would accept lower resolutions and frame rates if the game itself was worth playing. Switch 2 appears to be raising that floor—not matching PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, but offering enough horsepower that compromises feel like reasonable trade-offs rather than painful cuts.
The game's first-person perspective also deserves mention, because it's a technical choice that affects how the hardware is stressed. First-person games demand consistent frame rates and responsive controls more than third-person titles do, since the camera is literally the player's eyes. Targeting 30fps for a first-person game is a deliberate decision to prioritize smoothness and control responsiveness over raw speed. It's the kind of detail that suggests MachineGames understands not just the hardware, but how people actually play games on a portable device.
As Indiana Jones and the Great Circle approaches its launch window, these specifications will likely become a reference point for other developers evaluating Switch 2. The question now is whether other major studios will follow MachineGames' lead, or whether the platform will remain a secondary consideration for AAA publishers. The technical groundwork is clearly there. What comes next depends on whether the market justifies the effort.
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Why does 30 frames per second matter for a game like this? Doesn't that feel slow compared to what players expect?
It does on paper, but first-person games are different. Your eyes are the camera, so consistency matters more than raw speed. A locked 30fps feels smoother than an unstable 60. MachineGames is choosing stability and visual quality over chasing a number.
What's DLSS actually doing here? Is it a compromise or a solution?
It's both. The game renders at a lower resolution, then DLSS intelligently upscales it to 1080p. You get visual quality without the processing cost. It's not cheating—it's smart engineering.
So this proves Switch 2 can handle modern games?
It proves Switch 2 can handle them if developers are willing to optimize. MachineGames isn't porting lazily. They're redesigning for the hardware. That takes time and money, which not every studio will invest.
What happens if other publishers don't follow?
Then Switch 2 stays a secondary platform for AAA games. The hardware can do the work, but only if someone's willing to do it. MachineGames is showing it's possible. Whether it's profitable is a different question.
Does 720p handheld feel like a step backward?
Not really. The original Switch was 720p handheld too. The difference is what's running at that resolution—a modern, detailed game instead of a scaled-down version of something else. Context matters.