Capcom has released Resident Evil Village Gold Edition for the Nintendo Switch 2, coinciding with the launch of Resident Evil Requiem on February 27th. A detailed performance comparison between the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 versions reveals significant differences in handheld gaming experience, with testing conducted using review copies provided by Capcom.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Resident Evil Village struggles with framerate stability despite running at 1080p in handheld mode. According to performance analysis, the game experiences dramatic framerate drops when players reach outdoor village areas, fluctuating well below 45 FPS compared to smoother indoor sequences.
Steam Deck Delivers More Stable Performance
In contrast, the Steam Deck version maintains framerates closer to 60 FPS with default settings. Testing revealed that the Steam Deck offers the option to cap framerates at 45 FPS, resulting in a smoother overall experience than the Switch 2’s uncapped handheld performance. Additionally, the Steam Deck version presents sharper image quality despite running at a lower native resolution than the Switch 2.
The Switch 2 version exhibits a noticeably blurry appearance and displays a glistening effect during movement, typically indicative of upscaling artifacts. These visual inconsistencies are not present on the Steam Deck version, which maintains clearer textures and more defined edges on the handheld screen.
Pricing and Bundle Options
Resident Evil Village Gold Edition costs $49.99 on the Nintendo eShop, while the Steam version is currently available for $14.99 during a sale ending February 26th. However, Nintendo offers a Generation Pack bundle including Resident Evil 7, Village, and Requiem for $89.99, available until March 31st, according to the company.
Meanwhile, the Steam version regularly goes on sale at similar discounted prices. Battery life between both devices remains approximately 2.5 hours on default settings, though the Steam Deck offers optimization options to extend playtime.
Docked Mode Improvements
The Switch 2 docked mode addresses some handheld visual concerns by rendering at 1440p resolution and eliminating the glistening effect. However, framerate drops in village areas persist even when docked, which is surprising given the Switch 2’s enhanced docked performance capabilities compared to the Steam Deck.
Loading times favor the Switch 2, with approximately 5.5 seconds to reach splash screens compared to 18 seconds on Steam Deck. Save game loading takes 10 seconds on Switch 2 versus 11 seconds on Steam Deck, with save operations nearly instantaneous on Nintendo’s hardware.
Customization Advantages for Steam Deck
The Steam Deck version allows extensive settings modifications unavailable on Switch 2. Players can enable FSR 1.0 upscaling to achieve consistent 60 FPS performance throughout the game, though with some image quality trade-offs. Alternatively, users can reduce framerates to 30 FPS while increasing graphical settings or maintain default configurations for extended battery life.
This flexibility represents a key advantage for the PC-based platform. The ability to customize performance parameters according to player preference provides options that the Switch 2 version cannot match despite its higher native resolution.
Resident Evil Village Performs Better on Steam Deck
Overall assessment favors the Steam Deck for Resident Evil Village handheld gaming. The sharper image quality, stable framerate performance, and absence of visual artifacts create a more enjoyable experience despite lower resolution. The Switch 2 appears underutilized or inadequately optimized to leverage its additional hardware capabilities effectively.
The persistent framerate issues in village areas remain the most significant drawback of the Switch 2 version. While resolution improvements when docked are appreciated, performance inconsistencies undermine the experience across both play modes.
Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village launch alongside Resident Evil Requiem on February 27th for Nintendo Switch 2, with the limited-time Generation Pack bundle remaining available through March 31st. Players seeking the optimal handheld experience may want to consider the Steam Deck version, particularly given current pricing differences and performance advantages.
