Digital Foundry (who I'm sure need no introduction, but I'll give them one anyway) are content creators focused on game performance and all things technical. Whether it's deep dives into frame rates, graphics settings, console comparisons, or breaking down the latest gaming hardware, they've built a reputation as one of the most respected technical voices in the industry.
Interestingly, during a recent podcast, the team decided to tackle a question that I'm sure many have debated: Did the Xbox Series S actually help pave the way for Nintendo's Switch 2? According to Digital Foundry, the answer appears to be yes, at least to some extent.
So, let's take a look at what they had to say and just how beneficial Xbox's lower-powered console may have been for developers bringing modern games to Switch 2.
Within the podcast, the Digital Foundry team argued that yes, the Xbox Series S has helped prepare developers for Nintendo's Switch 2. Oliver Mackenzie explained that many of the compromises developers had to make for the Series S have translated surprisingly well to Nintendo's latest hardware.
He pointed to Final Fantasy VII as an example, noting that the Series S and Switch 2 versions use very similar settings and visual trade-offs. In fact, Digital Foundry admitted that it often looks at Series S versions of games when estimating how a Switch 2 port might perform.
However, it's not quite a one-to-one comparison. Thanks to NVIDIA's DLSS upscaling technology, there are instances where the Switch 2 can actually deliver better image quality than its Xbox counterpart despite its more limited hardware.
One example highlighted by the team was Resident Evil Requiem. According to Digital Foundry, the game looks better on Switch 2 from an image quality perspective, although the Series S version ultimately delivers stronger performance.
People often like to poke fun at the plucky Series S, but without it, we may have seen a very different outcome for Nintendo's Switch 2. If Digital Foundry is right, Xbox’s lower-powered console may have done more to prepare developers for Nintendo's hardware than many people realize.
Of course, it's not just Digital Foundry that sees the benefits. Over the years, several developers have praised the Series S for pushing them to optimize their games, which has only improved performance across other consoles and hardware.
As for me, I've always had a soft spot for the Series S. In fact, I like it enough that I currently have two of them scattered around the house.
But enough about me. Are you thankful for the Xbox Series S, or do you think the industry would be better off without it? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll below:
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