Work begins on Expedition 33 Switch 2 port

The Quest for Porting: How Clair Obscur is Taming the Switch 2 Monster

For fans of demanding RPGs, the promise of playing top-tier experiences on console hardware is a persistent dream. That dream has just become a complex engineering puzzle for Sandfall Interactive, as the team explores the possibility of bringing their acclaimed title, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Despite the excitement surrounding the potential port, the road ahead is anything but smooth. Studio CEO Guillaume Broche and co-founder Tom Guillermin have acknowledged that while the desire to reach Nintendo’s latest console is strong, the technical challenges are significant. The heart of the difficulty lies in bridging the gap between the game’s ambitious visual fidelity and the capabilities of the new hardware.

The hurdle is rooted deeply in the engine itself. Expedition 33 is built upon cutting-edge features of Unreal Engine 5, leveraging powerful tools like Lumen and Nanite to create its stunning, atmospheric world. Unfortunately, these high-end graphical technologies currently do not run natively on the Switch 2.

This limitation means the team faces a fundamental choice: either drastically compromise the game’s visual splendor or wait for the necessary technological updates. Lead artist Alan Reynaud noted that while Epic Games is working on lighter alternatives, such as Lumen Lite, these essential engine improvements will take time to roll out. Consequently, Sandfall must evaluate potential engine changes before committing to a full console port.

The challenge isn’t limited to the Switch 2; it extends across handheld platforms too. Even when tackling performance on PC handhelds like the Steam Deck, the team has had to implement significant visual cutbacks to maintain playable frame rates. This difficulty underscores just how much optimization is required to translate a demanding game experience onto new console architecture.

Yet, optimism remains firmly in place. The development team believes that with dedicated optimization and the arrival of updated engine support, a polished version of Expedition 33 for the Switch 2 is achievable. After all, if massive titles like Cyberpunk 2077 can be successfully adapted to Nintendo’s new hardware, it stands to reason that an equally ambitious title like Clair Obscur has a fighting chance.