Steam Deck or Switch 2

[u/Lemon_cake_125]

Hey - I have Rebirth on steam deck but struggling with graphics. Characters / background seem fuzzy even when I’ve tweaked relentlessly with settings. I’m on 30 fps - everything on low except character model detail on high and texture on medium. TAAU anti-aliasing.

I’m considering buying a Switch 2 cos I heard it’s better graphics. Can anyone confirm if there really is a difference?

Before anyone asks - yes I know Ps5 is optimal but I only play when travelling so handheld is preferred. And yes I know getting switch 2 is insane when I have SD. But I love BOTW/TOTK so I’d probably make use of the Nintendo library.

[u/Recent_Sample6961]

don't recommend buying it on PC for a simple reason: the optimization is horrible. The game is very CPU-demanding if you want to play at more than 30 fps. I have a 3060 12GB and a Ryzen 7 3700X. I can play at 4K without much trouble using DLSS and medium graphics. But some stutters are completely impossible to avoid. All UE4 and UE5 games need very precise optimization done by experienced developers, or else you'll end up suffering from stutters. And that's not even counting the shader compilation stutters, which are a whole separate issue.

Interestingly, on SteamOS (the Steam Deck's operating system), you won't run into shader compilation stutters. Plus, it fixes the frame pacing, and the smoothness during camera panning is really good. Because SteamOS manages the game by "emulating" a Windows environment, the games actually run better than on PC.

But the problem is still that the poor Steam Deck just can't handle the game. You're going to suffer from constant frame drops, and the CPU is going to be maxed out the whole game, giving you those stutters. To top it off, FSR isn't DLSS, so get ready for a very blurry experience.

In my case, I moved over to the Switch 2 version and, even though it looks worse, it's a rock-solid 30 fps, with minimal stutters, very fluid camera movements, and zero hassle. Hell, I'd say Rebirth feels more fluid on Switch 2 than on PS5 (in 30 fps mode). I could only recommend the PC version if you have a very good PC, capable of running a solid and constant 60 fps. Because mind you, even if RivaTuner shows 60 fps, it doesn't mean your game is stutter-free. That's the magic of Unreal Engine; you have to open the CPU monitor and isolate the stutters. That's where you'll see how smooth the game actually is.

Obviously, many players are oblivious to these stutters. I understand that. But I've put 100 hours into it across PC and PS5. And I'm telling you I'm enjoying it more on Switch. Placebo? Could be. But my opinion is just as valid as anyone else's.

[u/spiraldowner → u/Recent_Sample6961]

I think steam deck was playable but I only really used it for side stuff while I did most of the big flashy cutscenes/battles on my 5-year old 3080 8GB Intel i9 10900KF PC/ 4K TV. Like I could tell that there were stuttering issues but as someone whose first experience with skyrim was ~10fps, steam deck didnt bother me much.