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Overwatch may have ditched the 2, but we finally got a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
Just the other day I made a post about the best free-to-play games on the Nintendo Switch 2, and this will comfortably sit on that list.
I’ll be honest though, I’m not the biggest fan of hero shooters these days. I played a ton of Paladins when it was first released on Switch and also played a fair amount of Overwatch 2 on the Xbox Series S I used to own. Any comparison I make will be with that version in mind—which ran flawlessly. The Switch 2 version, though, doesn’t.
Overwatch Switch 2 Edition Underperforms (Right Now)
The Switch 2 Edition should hit a solid 60 fps on both handheld and docked modes. Here’s what Blizzard promised:
“Take the fight with you as Overwatch arrives on Nintendo Switch 2. Better visuals, higher fidelity audio, and up to 60 FPS in both docked and handheld mode make this a much stronger way to experience the game on your Nintendo Switch 2. It’s a cleaner, crisper, portable version of Overwatch that still lets you play with your friends wherever you are.”
I immediately noticed the frame rate was way lower—and it turns out it’s only hitting 30 fps. It dips even further during heavy action, making precise shots genuinely difficult to land.
It’s unclear why this happened, but Blizzard did take notice quickly and issued the following statement:
“We are aware of an issue with the FPS limit on the Nintendo Switch 2 being lower than intended. We are working on a patch to resolve this issue.”
So once the patch drops, I’ll come back and properly rate the game—because this is not the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition that should have been delivered.
That said, even at 30 fps, navigating the menus is noticeably smoother. Heroes no longer take ages to load their 3D models when picked, and the loading screens before matches are far less painful than they used to be on Switch 1. Whether those gains carry over after the patch is something I’m keeping a close eye on.
Overwatch on Switch 2 Looks Better — Slightly
In the visuals department, I was expecting a bit more. The Switch 2 version is less blurry than its predecessor, which is a win, but I was hoping for sharper textures and improved lighting—some character faces still look surprisingly flat.
Whether the upcoming patch brings any visual improvements alongside the frame rate fix remains to be seen. If the game ends up looking exactly like this but running at 60 fps, that’s honestly a trade-off I’m willing to take.
Does Overwatch Have Mouse Mode?
Since Blizzard never mentioned it, I suspected there wouldn’t be a mouse mode—and after checking the settings myself, I can confirm there isn’t one.
But are we really missing much?
Using the Joy-Cons as a mouse is an interesting concept, but one I’m not fully sold on, for one simple reason: ergonomics. It’s uncomfortable to play for any extended session, and after a while the hand cramps kick in. Games keep mapping every action to the face buttons too, and reaching them while trying to find a natural resting position for your hand is genuinely awkward.
There are accessories out there that improve comfort, but that’s not what I need. What I need is a Joy-Con shaped like an actual mouse—only then would I consider mouse mode a real feature rather than a gimmick. So no, we’re not missing much without it here.
Should You Play Overwatch on Switch 2?
The game is free-to-play, which means there’s very little risk in downloading and trying it. If you enjoy it, keep playing. If not, drop it and move on.
Just be aware that this Switch 2 Edition currently pales in comparison to what Fortnite, Apex Legends, and most recently Warframe have delivered on the same hardware—optimized performance in both handheld and docked modes, with mouse mode support to boot. I’m not saying those are better games, but in terms of how well they use what Switch 2 has to offer, they set a bar Overwatch hasn’t cleared yet.
For now, though. Once the patch drops, I’ll jump back in and update this review accordingly.
Thanks for reading, I’ll be seeing you next time with brand-new content!
NOTE: FINAL SCORE PENDING, WAITING FOR THE PATCH
