Is GTA Trilogy 60 fps on Switch?
I‘m sad to report that the recently released Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is locked at 30 frames per second on the Nintendo Switch, with no option or setting to enable 60 fps.
As an avid gamer and Switch enthusiast, I was eagerly anticipating the GTA Trilogy for on-the-go mayhem. Unfortunately, the game really struggles to even maintain a steady 30 fps, with aggressive frame rate drops plaguing performance.
Let‘s take a deeper look at why 60 fps isn‘t possible on Switch and how the overall experience suffers as a result.
Technical Limitations Holding Back GTA Trilogy on Switch
Rockstar clearly had to make some compromises to get these expansive open world games running on the Switch‘s mobile hardware. The table below compares some key technical specifications between platforms:
| Console | Resolution (Docked/Handheld) | Frame Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | 648p/Under 648p | 30 fps (unstable) |
| PS5 & Xbox Series X | Native 4K | 60 fps |
| PS4 Pro & Xbox One X | Upscaled 4K | 60 fps |
As you can see, the Switch version runs at a criminally low sub-720p resolution in both docked and handheld modes. And there‘s no way for the Tegra X1 chipset to push these games at 60 fps without drastically reducing resolution or graphical settings even further.
Digital Foundry‘s expert analysis confirms the game is actually hovering around just 20-25 fps during open world gameplay on Switch. That‘s an almost unplayable level of performance.
What Could Be Improved in Future Updates?
Rockstar has pushed multiple patches since launch aimed at optimizing stability and fixing bugs across all platforms. And performance has improved slightly according to players and media outlets.
But the Switch edition still appears to be lacking any kind of 30 fps lock or V-sync implementation that could help smooth out some of those jarring frame pacing issues. There also doesn‘t seem to be any sort dynamic resolution scaling or graphical settings options for players to tweak.
Enabling either 30 fps cap or dynamic scaling could potentially provide a better, more consistent experience on Switch. Although getting a locked 60 fps seems impossible without fully reworking the games.
I‘m hopeful Rockstar continues working to improve GTA Trilogy on Switch. But drastically upgrading performance would likely require going back to the drawing board, possibly even requiring a separate "Switch Pro" profile that takes advantage of upgraded hardware if that‘s ever released.
Should You Buy GTA Trilogy on Switch?
Even with potential future patches on the horizon, I simply can‘t recommend picking up the Switch version of GTA Trilogy in its current state.
The hope with any Switch port is being able to take the full console experience with you on the go. But these ports feels like more of a mobile compromise rather than proper Switch adaptations.
30 fps could be acceptable if it was truly locked and stable. However, with the frequent dips causing stutter, the Switch edition offers by far the worst way to play these classics.
I‘d suggest playing GTA Trilogy on pretty on much any other platform if possible right now to enjoy 60 fps smoothness. But let‘s hope Rockstar rolls out some more optimization updates soon that make me eat my words!
What do you think about GTA Trilogy‘s performance issues on Switch? Have you played it on multiple platforms and how would you compare the experience? Let me know in the comments!
