Despite completing the entire Pokédex in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, there were moments when I wanted to take a break due to the game's wildly inconsistent performance. Thanks to two new screenshots posted by Pokémon Korea, we now have a better idea of what the Switch 2 upgrade actually entails. While we need to see more video of the game in motion, things are looking better visually.

While Nintendo has been feeding us morsels of info for the Switch 2 upgrades, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet seem to benefit heavily, as is apparent from these new screenshots. Thanks to this post from the Italian site PokeNext, you can even see them compared directly below. In the still shots, the upgrades are nice, but unless many other issues are fixed, fans may not be as impressed.

New Switch 2 Screenshots For Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Show An Upgrade

They Look Better At A Glance

As you may have noticed, everything looks much smoother in the new Switch 2 screenshots for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, especially regarding the detail of environments at a distance. The shot of the city (Levincia) makes this even clearer, as you can see that the edges of the buildings have been smoothed over. More character models appear in both shots, potentially hinting at gameplay benefits beyond aesthetic enhancements.

Given how intricate some of the locales can be in Scarlet & Violet, this could be the push many players needed to either finish their run or pick up the game in the first place. Plus, based on how dire the performance was at points on the base Switch hardware, Nintendo could have a secret weapon on their hands with Switch 2 upgrades to get people to buy old Switch 1 games.

GameFreak's Biggest Criticism Might Now Be Resolved

A Consistent Framerate Will Be The Biggest Hurdle

Despite hinting at multiple performance patches, the "big one" never really came for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Smaller patches teased out performance upgrades, yet the base game still suffered from myriad framerate problems, amid a generally unimpressive set of visuals. This was on top of the fact that the full National Pokedex still hadn't been restored, amid other story and mechanical-related issues.

That said, the Switch 2 upgrades don't look like they will reinvent the wheel. Since it will be delivered via a free upgrade, this is not a remaster or a remake by any stretch of the imagination. The core art style is still prevalent in these Switch 2 screens, so if you didn't like that to begin with, these "upgrades" aren't going to do much for you here. I hope the framerate is consistent and doesn't dip as severely as the Switch 1 version.

It's Time To Replay Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Especially If You Haven't Tried The DLC Yet

Despite completing the entire Paldean Pokédex, I couldn't shake the framerate problems with Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, and had to take a break on occasion. It was especially bad when it came to overworld exploration, specifically when it came to nabbing every Pokémon and scouring the overworld for every single nook and cranny they were hiding in. For those of you who gave up on the game due to its mechanical holdups, this might be a perfect opportunity to jump back in, if the Switch 2 update delivers.

Of course, this still isn't going to fix the foundational hurdles that Pokémon Scarlet & Violet face. If you're not a fan of the art style, the story, or the way the endgame is handled, no amount of visual smoothing will plaster over those problems. It doesn't hurt to have a better version of the game from now on, though.

Source: Pokemon Korea