Everyone wants to know. Can the Nintendo Switch actually run a game as massive as Naoe and Yasuke’s journey through 16th-century Japan? It’s the question haunting every Nintendo fan who saw that stunning cinematic trailer. You’ve probably seen the rumors. Some people swear it’s coming via the cloud, while others think Ubisoft is just going to skip the platform entirely until the "Switch 2" finally breaks cover. Honestly, the situation is a bit of a mess, but if we look at Ubisoft’s track record and the actual technical specs of the Anvil engine, the picture gets a lot clearer.
Ubisoft isn't exactly a stranger to Nintendo hardware. They’ve been one of the most loyal third-party supporters for years. But Assassin’s Creed Shadows Switch support is a different beast compared to something like Mario + Rabbids. This is a game built for the current generation of hardware—PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and high-end PCs. We are talking about a world with dynamic seasons, destructible environments, and a lighting system that actually affects gameplay. That's a lot of math for a handheld chip from 2017 to handle.
Why a Native Port of Assassin’s Creed Shadows Switch is a Pipe Dream
Let’s be real for a second. The Nintendo Switch is struggling. Even first-party titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet or Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom pushed the hardware to its absolute breaking point, and those were games designed specifically for the console's limitations. Assassin’s Creed Shadows uses an evolved version of the Anvil engine. This version introduces global illumination and a complex "spy" system where NPCs have schedules that shift based on the time of day and the changing weather.
If you try to jam that into the Switch’s Tegra X1 chip, it’s not going to just look "worse." It might not function at all.
You’ve probably played Assassin’s Creed Odyssey or Origins on other platforms. Those games were massive. Now imagine trying to render a fully destructible feudal Japanese village where the snow accumulates in real-time during winter. The memory bandwidth alone would choke a standard Switch. This is why Ubisoft has been very specific about their platforms. As of early 2025, the official list remains PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Mac (Silicon), and PC. Notice a trend? Everything on that list has a solid-state drive (SSD) and modern architecture.
The Switch? It uses eMMC storage and an aging mobile processor. It’s a mismatch.
The Cloud Version "Solution"
So, is the dream of Assassin’s Creed Shadows Switch dead? Not necessarily, but it might not be the experience you want. Ubisoft has a history of releasing "Cloud Versions" in Japan. They did it with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. They did it with Resident Evil and Control.
Here is how it works:
- The game runs on a powerful server in a data center.
- The video feed is streamed to your Switch.
- Your inputs are sent back to the server.
It sounds great on paper. You get the full graphics. You get the 60fps (hopefully). But in reality, it’s hit or miss. If your Wi-Fi hiccups for a millisecond, Yasuke misses his parry and you’re staring at a "reconnecting" screen. Plus, once the servers go down in a few years, your purchase is essentially gone. Most gamers in the West hate this. Ubisoft knows this. Unless they see a massive demand, a Cloud Version for North America and Europe feels unlikely given how poorly previous cloud efforts have performed outside of Japan.
Waiting for the "Switch 2" or "Super Switch"
This is where things get interesting. We all know the successor to the Switch is looming. Developers already have dev kits. If an Assassin’s Creed Shadows Switch version exists in any meaningful way, it’s almost certainly being built for the next-gen Nintendo hardware.
Think about it. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has often spoken about wanting their games on as many screens as possible. They aren't allergic to Nintendo; they are just limited by physics. The "Switch 2" is rumored to have performance comparable to a portable PS4 Pro or even a Series S with DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) enabled. That is the sweet spot. With DLSS, Nintendo’s next console could actually handle the ray-traced shadows and high-density crowds of Shadows without turning the console into a space heater.
If you’re holding out hope, don’t look at the current OLED sitting on your nightstand. Look at whatever Nintendo is announcing in the coming months.
What You’re Missing by Not Playing on Current Gen
I get it. Not everyone wants to drop $500 on a PS5 just for one game. But Assassin’s Creed Shadows is fundamentally changing how the series works. It’s not just a reskin of Valhalla. For the first time, light and dark actually matter. Naoe, the shinobi protagonist, can extinguish lamps to hide in the shadows. This is a dynamic light system. Old-school "baked" lighting (which the Switch uses to save power) can’t do this easily.
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Then there’s the scale. 16th-century Japan is dense. We are talking about castles like Himeji rendered with historical accuracy. The crowd density is significantly higher than anything we saw in Mirage. On a base Switch, those crowds would be reduced to three or four NPCs standing awkwardly in a field. It would kill the vibe.
Comparing the Experience
If a miracle happened and a native port landed on the current Switch, the compromises would be brutal:
- Resolution: Likely 540p or lower in handheld mode. It would look like looking through a vaseline-covered lens.
- Frame Rate: Expect 20-25 FPS during combat. In a game about precision timing, that’s a death sentence.
- Textures: The beautiful silk kimonos and weathered wood of the Sengoku period would look like flat, gray blobs.
- Loading Times: Without an SSD, you’d be waiting minutes to fast travel across the map.
The Financial Reality for Ubisoft
Ubisoft is in a bit of a tight spot lately. They need Shadows to be a massive hit. Spending millions of dollars to optimize a "miracle port" for the Switch—only for it to get mediocre reviews because of the graphics—might not be the best business move. They would rather you buy it on PC or a different console where the game looks exactly how the artists intended.
They’ve seen what happened with Mortal Kombat 1 on Switch. The memes were everywhere. The characters looked like they were made of play-dough. Ubisoft doesn't want that for their premier franchise. They want Shadows to be prestigious.
Real Alternatives for Portable AC Fans
If you absolutely must play Assassin's Creed on the go, and you don't want to wait for a hypothetical Assassin’s Creed Shadows Switch release, you have options. The Steam Deck and ROG Ally run the older games beautifully. In fact, Assassin's Creed Mirage runs surprisingly well on the Steam Deck with some settings tweaks.
If you're stuck on the Switch, you still have the Ezio Collection, The Rebel Collection (Black Flag is still a masterpiece), and AC III. These games were built for an older era, so they actually fit the Switch's hardware. They feel native because they were designed for the constraints of that time.
Moving Forward: What Should You Do?
If you are a die-hard Nintendo fan waiting for Shadows, the best advice is to wait for the hardware transition. Don't buy a Cloud Version if one is announced unless you have fiber-optic internet and low latency expectations.
Actionable Steps for the Eager Assassin:
- Audit your internet: If Ubisoft announces a Cloud Version, run a speed test. You need at least 25Mbps stable download and low jitter to even consider it.
- Track Nintendo's Hardware Announcements: The moment a "Switch 2" is revealed, watch Ubisoft’s Twitter. A "Launch Edition" of Shadows for the new hardware is almost a certainty.
- Check Cross-Progression: Ubisoft uses Ubisoft Connect. If you start the game on PC or another console now, your save will likely carry over to a future Nintendo platform if they ever release it.
- Watch the "Miracle Port" Studios: Keep an eye on companies like Saber Interactive or Panic Button. If they get involved, a native port becomes 10% more likely. They are the wizards who moved The Witcher 3 and Doom Eternal onto the Switch.
The dream of feudal Japan in your pocket is alive, but it’s probably not happening on the hardware you currently own. The technical gap is just too wide this time. But with the next generation of Nintendo hardware around the corner, the wait might be shorter than you think.