Switch owners that are considering purchasing Ark Survival Evolved may be interested in a new performance analysis carried out by the team over at Digital Foundry. Providing some great feedback and gameplay as to what you can expect playing the ported version of Ark Survival Evolved on the Nintendo Switch.
Unfortunately, after first being unveiled on PC, Ark Survival Evolved was then ported to consoles and unfortunately required a little tweaking to play on the lower-powered hardware. Watch the video below to learn just how much tweaking needed to be done to make it play on the Nintendo Switch.
Challenges of Porting to the Nintendo Switch
“Ark Survival Evolved is noted for its super-high system requirements and choppy gameplay on the current generation consoles – but a Switch version? Just how is that going to pan out – especially in mobile form? Let’s just say that it’s very poor in many respects, but surprisingly better than expected in others.”
Porting a game like Ark Survival Evolved to the Nintendo Switch is no small feat. The game is known for its demanding graphics and extensive open-world environment, which can be taxing even on high-end PCs. The Switch, with its more modest hardware, presents a unique set of challenges. Developers had to make significant compromises in terms of graphical fidelity and performance to ensure the game could run on the Switch. This included reducing texture quality, lowering resolution, and making adjustments to the game’s draw distance and frame rate.
Despite these compromises, the Switch version of Ark Survival Evolved manages to capture the essence of the game. Players can still experience the thrill of taming dinosaurs, building bases, and exploring a vast, prehistoric world. However, these experiences come with some caveats. The game often struggles with frame rate drops, especially in more populated or graphically intense areas. Additionally, the lower resolution can make some details appear blurry or less defined compared to other platforms.
Performance Analysis and Player Feedback
Digital Foundry’s analysis provides a detailed look at how the game performs on the Switch. They highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of the port, offering valuable insights for potential buyers. One of the key takeaways is that while the game is playable, it may not offer the smoothest experience, particularly for players accustomed to the performance on more powerful consoles or PCs.
Player feedback has been mixed. Some appreciate the ability to play Ark Survival Evolved on a portable device, enjoying the flexibility that the Switch offers. Others, however, find the performance issues too distracting, detracting from the overall experience. It’s clear that the Switch version is best suited for those who prioritize portability and are willing to accept some performance trade-offs.
In conclusion, Ark Survival Evolved on the Nintendo Switch is a testament to the developers’ efforts to bring a complex and demanding game to a less powerful platform. While it may not be the definitive way to experience the game, it offers a unique opportunity for Switch owners to dive into the world of Ark. For those interested in seeing the game in action and understanding the extent of the compromises made, the Digital Foundry video provides an excellent overview.
Source: DF
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