The Nintendo Switch 2 may be hindered more by software limitations than by its hardware, according to game developer Matthew Cassells. On a recent episode of the Moore’s Law is Dead‘s Broken Silicon podcast, Cassells highlighted several factors that could affect game performance on the new system, including file system issues inherited from the original Switch. Both systems use the exFAT and FAT32 file systems, which have limitations such as the 4GB file size cap of FAT32. This constraint can force developers to use smaller files, potentially compromising texture quality or leading to file fragmentation. Cassells expressed confusion over Nintendo’s decision to continue using these outdated systems, especially since the company pays a licensing fee to Microsoft for exFAT without a clear benefit.
In contrast, PlayStation consoles use Linux-based file systems, avoiding these issues altogether.
Another software limitation that could affect the Switch 2 is Nintendo’s strict regulation on how often games can write data to the NAND flash memory. This is an effort to prolong the lifespan of the system, but it creates additional restrictions on developers compared to Sony and Microsoft, which don’t impose such limits. Cassells attributes this limitation to Nintendo’s choice to use cheaper NAND chips, questioning whether the savings are worth the impact on game development. The system’s use of a lot of resources for the OS and GameChat, as well as its heavy reliance on encryption and DRM, compounds the problem.
These challenges, however, are not currently affecting users, as the Switch 2 is proving to be very successful. Notably, games like Cyberpunk 2077 have shown what the console can do when optimized by skilled developers. Still, Cassells pointed out that the lack of sufficient development kits for the Switch 2 means many developers are working blind, hoping their builds will perform well on the new console. Despite these issues, the Switch 2’s performance in the hands of expert developers shows promise for its future.