Skyrim Update 1.2 Adds Performance Modes on Switch 2

Bethesda Game Studios has released update 1.2 for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2, introducing performance modes that address longstanding complaints about frame rates and input lag following the game's December launch.

The update, available now for download, adds a new 60 Hz mode in the Display settings menu. Players can toggle between Prioritize Visuals, which locks the frame rate at 30 Hz for stable gameplay with enhanced graphics, and Prioritize Performance, which targets 60 Hz by adjusting resolution and visual details for smoother action. These options apply in both handheld and docked modes, aiming to align the Switch 2 version more closely with higher-end platforms like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. While exact resolution targets remain unspecified, the performance mode involves trade-offs such as reduced detail on distant objects to maintain fluidity.

The patch arrives amid criticism of the initial port, which shadow-dropped in December as the tenth major platform for the 2011 open-world RPG. Early players reported severe input lag and inconsistent frame pacing, exacerbated by an uncapped frame rate introduced in a prior...