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[Toadthemushroom]

Video with John and Richard

Feature on Eurogamer

John and Richard went hands-on with Skyrim on Switch, playing solely in handheld mode. It basically held a rock solid 30fps at all times while rendering natively in 720p to the Switch's screen. They did some traversal and light combat and it all went off - to quote Richard - without a hitch. Ha!

There was also a brief glimpse at loading times near the end of the recording.

But if what we played is indeed fully representative of how the final game shapes up when running in mobile mode, the Switch port of Skyrim should be well worth checking out. We've tried playing the game on an Intel Atom-based tablet with integrated graphics and the experience is nothing like as good as this - if you're looking to play a fully portable Skyrim, you're looking at a larger gaming laptop to offer the visual feature set and performance the Switch version is offering. Ultimately, 15 minutes of hands-on time with a game only goes so far - especially in a vast game like Skyrim - but what we've seen so far holds up really well, and we're looking forward to taking a deeper look at the final release.

---

Update: Looks like the Switch version is based on the Special Edition. Some detectives in this thread have compared like-for-like areas across the Switch version and Xbox 360 version, uncovering lighting and detail not present in the original game on Switch:

I know the quality is shit... Here is a small comp.

X360

Switch

X360

Switch

Digital Foundry's John weighs in:

Well, looking at the evidence in this thread, it does seem based on SE rather than vanilla. It's been a while so, on the floor, it was hard to say (since the SE also looks dated). Wasnt there some dynamic depth of field on SE though? That's not in the Switch version from what I could see.

 

[Markitron]

I have been wanting to replay this since 2011, and the Switch is the perfect place. Still no word of a release date?

On the handheld screen, the title looked like it was rendering at native 720p, and while graphics comparisons aren't really viable on the showfloor - especially on mobile screens - the Switch version of Skyrim delivered an accomplished mobile experience. It's the consistency in performance that's really impressive, especially compared to the last-gen versions of the game. The wobbly frame-rates with hitching and stuttering during traversal and combat simply aren't an issue on Switch: that 30 frames per second is as close to locked as you're going to get.

This is all I needed to know.

 

[Robin64]

Nice that it performs well. The notion of playing Skyrim in a handheld configuration is appealing, even though I played vanilla Skyrim to death on the Xbox 360.

Though I've not played any of the official expansions, so those will be fun to tackle too.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Sounds pretty good. Fifa 18 delivered, Skyrim delivered...now if Rocket League runs well on Switch we i am set for this Holiday season in addition to Mario and XB2. Sweet.

 

[LordKano]

They're wrong though, the game was playable at SDCC weeks ago.

 

[Chauzu]

Good to hear! Might make this my first Skyrim experience.

 

[sinonobu]

I have been wanting to replay this since 2011, and the Switch is the perfect place. Still no word of a release date?

I believe that recent Amazon listing stated that it will be released on November 28th. We'll probably get the official release date announcement on fall Direct though.

 

[Zedark]

Good to hear! Might make this my first Skyrim experience.

Wish I could

 

[TannerDemoz]

Tuesday would be 12/12/12 and would make fantastic promo and be excellent timing for Christmas?

 

[kami_sama]

ok, that sounds great. Native resolution and locked framerate are enough for me.

 

[z0m3le]

Tuesday would be 12/12/12 and would make fantastic promo and be excellent timing for Christmas?

Found the time traveler everyone.

 

[Flintty]

I never played Skyrim so this is looking a good buy for me on Switch. Great to hear it's running well.

 

[Chessr]

Looking forward to Play it again. Played on pc at launch

 

[SuperSah]

sold

 

[sirap]

Locked framerate? Good framepacing? IN.

Also loved their digs at Microsoft.

 

[MrKeinov]

I've been mainly a console gamer for the last decade and this excites me so much. Skipped it on PS3 6 years ago because of the technical problems last gen versions have. PS4 version that came last year seem to provide a decent enough experience but I didn't jump in because I already knew the switch version was on the way. It makes me happy that this is indeed comparable to steady PS4 version. Day 1 for me.

 

[pagrab]

Looks cool. I guess I will be buying two Skyrim copies, 60 euros each in 2017 (Switch and PSVR).

 

[Dark Cloud]

I'm so ready to play it again! Day 1!

 

[Cartho]

Welp, buying Skyrim again.

 

[iamaustrian]

PS3 version was a unplayable mess, so yea, this will be my first real time to play skyrim.

It's all kind of impressive to be able to play that on the go with smooth framerate and 720p.

awesome, day 1

 

[MetalliCabombination]

Good for the switch but i used to play skyrim on a 2010 laptop with a gt 420m and mods lol

 

[jonno394]

I'm hoping what we're seeing is true handheld mode, if thats the experience i'll get, then i'm rebuying Skyrim.

However, this comment has me wary

It's all looking impressive so far, but there are a couple of caveats to bear in mind. Firstly, the handheld unit looked very much like retail Switch hardware, but it was connected via a meaty-looking cable harness leading into a closed box, and we're told by Switch developers that debug units can run the full-fat GPU clocks in what otherwise looks like the handheld mode.

 

[TannerDemoz]

Found the time traveler everyone.

I honestly convinced myself it was 2012 for a good half hour. What is wrong with me.

 

[LordKano]

I'm hoping what we're seeing is true handheld mode, if thats the experience i'll get, then i'm rebuying Skyrim.

However, this comment has me wary

Seems unneccesary to me. So far, there hasn't been any case of a game performing better during hands-on than at launch.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

And this right here is a large chunk of the Switch's appeal in a nutshell, for me. Even last gen ports - albeit a remastered one here - become appealing with some extra power and portability in the mix.

 

[EVH]

Don't get why they dont male a good gameplay trailer showing the important stuff in this version, but whatever.

With Rabbids, Skyrim, Mario, Rocket League and so the Switch will be served till christmas. Still missing FPS like CoD, DOOM and Titanfall.

 

[iamaustrian]

Don't get why they dont male a good gameplay trailer showing the important stuff in this version, but whatever.

With Rabbids, Skyrim, Mario, Rocket League and so the Switch will be served till christmas. Still missing FPS like CoD, DOOM and Titanfall.

agreed
A portable Doom version would sell a shiton.
alone for the multiplayer

 

[Kevin]

Pretty neat to see stuff like this in a handheld. I wish more developers would support the Switch. Looks like the Skyrim port is going to turn out better then I was expecting.

 

[z0m3le]

I honestly convinced myself it was 2012 for a good half hour. What is wrong with me.

Their promotion for the original was 11/11/11 iirc.

Yep

 

[Fiendcode]

agreed
A portable Doom version would sell a shiton.
alone for the multiplayer

I think if Skyrim does exceptionally well that'll probably mean more Bethesda ports being prioritized (Doom, Fallout, TEW, etc). Maybe even TES Online if they can fit it.

 

[Lonely1]

agreed
A portable Doom version would sell a shiton.
alone for the multiplayer

I would take a classic Doom & Quake collection.

 

[NippleViking]

Hopefully Bethesda and other pubs see a market for porting more of their legacy titles. Portability really ups the allure of even so-so ports.

Fallout 3, Fallout NV, Oblivion, older Elder Scross, classic Doom, Mass Effect, Arkham series, Assassins Creed series, etc.

 

[Squall5042]

Ahh can't decide between this or VR

 

[Mr. Phellps]

I'm hoping what we're seeing is true handheld mode, if thats the experience i'll get, then i'm rebuying Skyrim.

However, this comment has me wary

The only reason Switch raises the clocks on dock mode is because the dock has fans to keep it cool while playing.
Considering cables aren't going to do that job, I don't think it's playing at dock clocks.

 

[faridmon]

Is it worth playing if I have never played any Elder Scrolls game?

 

[mavericktopgun]

Ahh can't decide between this or VR

You can play the Switch Version in the toilet, on Holidays, the beach, whereever you want.

 

[Mr. Phellps]

Is it worth playing if I have never played any Elder Scrolls game?

Yes. Skyrim is the only TES game I have ever played and it was still a blast.

 

[Robin64]

Ahh can't decide between this or VR

Can you get both? (I'd totally get both if I had VR)

 

[Sammy Samusu]

Yeah I can see Fallout on Switch.

Hope this sells well. It's a great game and looks like a good effort.

Switch is on fire!

 

[heringer]

Is it worth playing if I have never played any Elder Scrolls game?

It's especially worth it if you never played any TES game before.

I do recommend you focus on ranged combat if you want the combat to be fun, though.

 

[family_guy]

The only reason Switch raises the clocks on dock mode is because the dock has fans to keep it cool while playing.
Considering cables aren't going to do that job, I don't think it's playing at dock clocks.

I don't think the dock has fans. Just the console.

 

[120v]

Is it worth playing if I have never played any Elder Scrolls game?

i wouldn't recommend starting with anything else, personally

 

[13ruce]

Will get it probably the motion controls + master sword in game is enough for me lol hopefully you can enchant it then it will be my main weapon lol.

Motion control + magic is gonna be cool as heck.

Great vid sounds like the port is very good and not a rush job.

 

[Robin64]

It's especially worth it if you never played any TES game before.

I do recommend you focus on ranged combat if you want the combat to be fun, though.

Hm, I wonder if having motion controls will help melee combat feel fun. Because yeah, in normal Skyrim it wasn't amazing.

 

[Nere]

They really sound bitter with the xbox x.

 

[_Clash_]

Good news for my Switch

 

[13ruce]

Hm, I wonder if having motion controls will help melee combat feel fun. Because yeah, in normal Skyrim it wasn't amazing.

Probably makes both magic and melee more fun to use. I dunno i kinda like waggling my controller to do combat lol that's why i love the wii version of Twilight Princess so much, loved Skyward Sword and adored Metroid Prime Trilogy.

 

[Mr. Phellps]

I don't think the dock has fans. Just the console.

I stand corrected, then.
Though, I suppose running at dock clocks while having the handheld display on would be a significant increase in heat and something DF would notice, perhaps? Unless Nintendo is somehow preventing that, but I don't think they're going out of their way to mask a Switch running at dock speeds.

 

[dark10x]

They're wrong though, the game was playable at SDCC weeks ago.

Ah, ok. I don't keep up with the SDCC and hadn't seen any impressions out there. Whoops.

 

[Robin64]

Any impressions on HD Rumble for this? It should be pretty good, feeling magic in your hand or the clash of swords.