Latest news with #PokemonScarlet
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Switch 2 update footage shows the "notorious frame drop lake" running at 60fps, and fans say it might be "the best possible advertisement" for the new console
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Switch 2 is officially out tomorrow, and with it, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are getting a free update to improve their performance on the new console, with improved draw distance to load in even more wild Pokemon, as well as a boosted frame rate, finally bringing the adventures to 60fps. Considering how notoriously poorly Scarlet and Violet run on the original Switch – with problems like frame drops and stuttering still an issue over two years since launch – this is a massive deal, and the first gameplay footage and extended preview looks shown ahead of release have fans in a frenzy. Not only does everything look buttery smooth, but it remains that way even when embarking on Casseroya Lake. If you've spent any time at all in Scarlet and Violet's Paldea region, you'll know why this is a big deal. While far from the only location in the games to experience performance issues, it's largely considered one of the worst – stuttering and considerable frame rate drops while traveling across the water are commonplace. Or, at least, they were on the OG Switch, because Nintendo has jumped at the opportunity to show off what exploring the lake looks like now. As one stunned fan puts it, "the Casseroya Lake footage literally made me get up and stare at the screen like a 60-year-old father witnessing his football team score a goal on TV." Another adds that "showing the notorious frame drop lake at a crisp framerate was such a power play," while one fan argues that "this is the best possible advertisement they could have done for the Switch 2 oh my god." Again, it's not just a frame rate boost, as improved draw distance means a lot more wild Pokemon now populate the screen than ever before (potentially a huge boon for shiny hunters, might I add). Former Pokemon world champion Wolfe "Wolfey" Glick suspects that "if you tried to put that many Pokemon in the lake on my Switch from 2017 I think it would actually explode." All of these reactions were to the few short seconds of footage posted on the Nintendo Today app earlier this week, but since then, the owner of Pokemon news site Serebii, Joe Merrick, has shared even more from a preview event. His footage takes things to the next level, because that 60fps apparently remains consistent even in the rain, folks. "It is so beautiful," Merrick adds. It's just one day to go now before the Switch 2 is out and we can all try Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's update for ourselves – from what we've seen so far, it looks like there's never been a better time to explore Paldea. Keeping up with all the Nintendo Switch 2 news before launch? Be sure to check out our roundup of upcoming Switch 2 games, too.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's free Switch 2 update promises to steal hundreds more hours from me as shiny hunting looks easier than ever with more wild encounters
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are each set to receive a free update on Switch 2 for a smoother frame rate, and it also sounds like the patch will also be huge news for any shiny hunting enthusiasts who like to spend their time looking for rare, sparkly 'mons, as it appears the process should theoretically be faster than ever. Although Scarlet and Violet were criticized at launch for their shaky performance on the OG Switch, I've personally spent many, many hours in the Paldea region looking for sparkly Pokemon with alternate color palettes. Like in Legends: Arceus and Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee before it, being able to simply see Pokemon in the overworld makes the process substantially faster – even at full 1/4192 odds – than repeatedly running around in the grass for random encounters. However, the simple point remains that the more Pokemon you can see, the better your chances are of seeing a sparkly one appear on your screen. And, well, thanks to the power of the Switch 2, it seems that more Pokemon is what we're going to get. As highlighted by Twitterer @Wario64, a new Japanese blog post from Nintendo briefly details the upcoming update, which – when machine translated – mentions that you'll be able to see Pokemon from further away than before. Essentially, you can expect an improved draw distance, but the screenshots shared really show what a difference this makes. With wild encounters now appearing far further into the distance, you're able to see many more Pokemon simultaneously. Previously, you had to either move around to despawn the currently generated Pokemon and bring in a batch of new ones, or you could choose to quickly enter and leave a picnic from your menu, despawning and respawning everything around you. That latter method seems like it'll work particularly well with this increased draw distance, as you'll be able to see plenty of Pokemon very quickly, without moving at all. I have just one lingering concern, though. Unlike in Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet don't feature a sound effect to signify when a shiny Pokemon has appeared near you, meaning you have to keep your eyes peeled at all times to make sure you don't miss any. Spawning in more Pokemon and at even further distances means it'll be a lot harder to keep track of everything on your screen, and fail your hunts without even knowing. A terrifying prospect. All in all though, I'd like to believe this is a decidedly positive update overall. As previously announced, Scarlet and Violet will be updated on Switch 2 on the new console's launch date, June 5, so any intrepid shiny hunters will be able to dive right in from day one. While you're here, be sure to check out our roundup of upcoming Switch 2 games, too.


CNET
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
New Footage Confirms Switch 2 Versions of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Run at 60fps
We've long known that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were on the list to receive a Switch 2 performance upgrade. Now, players have their first look at how these games play on the new console, via Nintendo Today, the Switch 2 news app. There's no way to embed the video in this article — Switch 2 footage is locked down on Nintendo Today — but the Wario64 Bluesky account shared a 33-second-long recording of the footage that you can view here. The showcase confirms that Scarlet and Violet will run at 4K at 60 frames per second on the Switch 2, at least while it's docked. This is a refreshing upgrade to the generation nine Pokemon games, which are among some of the best Pokemon games of all time but are hampered by a slew of performance issues. Nintendo included shots of key in-game locations, such as Pokemon Academy in Mesagoza and Casseroya Lake. With the original Switch hardware, the frame rate would frequently tank anywhere between 20 and 30fps when exploring these areas. The Switch 2 footage shows the game maintaining a smooth 60fps with no visual stutters no matter where the player is exploring. The art style for the game remains largely unchanged, with wild Pokemon plodding around mostly flat textures on the overworld. But when it comes to Scarlet and Violet's performance issues, the Switch 2 seems to be making a big leap in the right direction. The Switch 2 officially launches on Thursday, so you won't have to wait very long to explore a more optimized version of the Paldea region. If an upgraded version of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet can't satisfy your pocket-monster collecting urges, Pokemon Legends: Z-A launches for the Switch and the Switch 2 on Oct. 16.


CNET
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
New Footage Confirms the Switch 2 Versions of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Run at 60 FPS
We've long since known that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were on the list to receive a Switch 2 performance upgrade. Now, players have their first look at how these games play on the new console, via Nintendo Today, the Switch 2 news app. There's no way to embed the video in this article -- Switch 2 footage is locked down on Nintendo Today -- but the Wario64 BlueSky account shared a 33-second-long recording of the footage that you can view here. The showcase confirms that Scarlet and Violet will run at 4k/60 FPS on the Switch 2, at least while it's docked. It's a refreshing switch-up for the generation nine Pokemon games, which are among some of the best Pokemon games of all time, but are hampered by a slew of performance issues. Nintendo included shots of key in-game locations such as the Pokemon Academy in Mesagoza and Casseroya Lake. On the original Switch hardware, the frame rate would frequently tank anywhere between 20 and 30 FPS when exploring these areas. The Switch 2 footage shows the game maintaining a smooth 60 FPS with no visual stutters no matter where the player is exploring. The art style for the game remains largely unchanged, with wild Pokemon plodding around mostly flat textures on the overworld. But when it comes to Scarlet and Violet's performance issues, the Switch 2 seems to be making a big leap in the right direction. The Switch 2 officially launches on Thursday so you won't have to wait very long to explore a more-optimized version of the Paldea region. If an upgraded version of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet can't sate your pocket-monster collecting urges, Pokemon Legends: Z-A will launch for the Switch and the Switch 2 on Oct. 16.