IO Interactive has now directly responded to ongoing Hitman Switch 2 performance issus, and has confirmed that improvements are incoming this summer. Hitman: World of Assassination (native) – the system seller to show the power of the Switch 2 has been heavily criticized since launch for unstable framerates and technical issues.
Asked to comment on the performance issues in a discussion with VGC, franchise director Jonathan Lacaille said:
I think the team is working on some of those Hitman Switch 2 performance issues right now, and they will be reduced this summer. No word of a solid patch date, but that’s at least a confirmation that IO are intent to make the Hitman Switch 2 experience better.
Performance issues with Hitman Switch 2 present a key challenge for IO Interactive which was able to shift from cloud-based streaming to a native port for Nintendo’s new hardware (with the original game, the studio employed cloud adaptations for Hitman 3 running on the original Switch hardware). A native experience — Why no cloud catch-up will be available on Switch CEO Hakan Abrak elaborated on why the decision was made to change from the cloud version to a native version on Switch:
“The cloud version was not as popular as we, among others, had hoped and anticipated at launch… We have since seen an increase in positive sentiment for cloud technology,
So after a consideration and evaluation of the service, we have decided to proceed with the development of a native edition of HITMAN 3 for Nintendo Switch.
Importantly, lessons learned while building the Hitman Switch 2 performance puzzles will literally feed into the experience of their 007 game. Lacaille confirmed that
“It’s good learning for us to bring 007 First Light…all of this will be learnings we bring to the next title.”
This could indicate that it is the performance optimizations in the Hitman Switch 2 process that are dictating the development rule standards for future Switch 2 builds.
Its summer bill hopes to eliminate many of the most irksome Hitman Switch 2 compromises that have held the game back. Framerates are said to drop frequently during complex scenes, while texture streaming is also said to be a bit of a mess; two problems one would think the Switch 2’s new graphics could solve. If Hitman Switch 2 fares better, that might validate IO’s native-port strategy–and recapture player trust after several technical missteps, not least the botched launch of MindsEye, which led to unheard-of PlayStation refunds.
Now that the summer window has been officially confirmed reliably, I am sure owners of Switch 2 are waiting for actual details on how IO Interactive will improve Hitman Switch 2 performance. A working fix could bring World of Assassination closer to the next-level showcase title it was always supposed to be and in doing so, for the Hitman 2 Switch release, establish a new benchmark in handheld AAA gaming.
