Kingdom Hearts 3 Runs at 30-40 FPS on Switch 2, Trailing PS5's 60 FPS

Q: Can the Switch 2’s DLSS tech truly outshine the Steam Deck, despite its weaker screen and lower target framerates?

Yes—but only in image reconstruction and docked presentation, not as a clean overall handheld win. The Kingdom Hearts 3 comparison suggests Switch 2 has a real technical edge over Steam Deck in this port. Docked, its visual effects are broadly close to the PS5 version, and reports on Switch 2’s Nvidia-based hardware indicate DLSS is doing meaningful work: rendering at lower internal resolutions while preserving a sharper final image than raw pixel counts alone would suggest. That can let Switch 2 look better than Steam Deck even when the underlying hardware budget is tight. But DLSS does not erase every tradeoff. In Kingdom Hearts 3, Switch 2 is running around 30–40 fps with an unlocked frame rate, while the PS5 holds 60 fps. More broadly, some hands-on reporting on other demanding Switch 2 games shows handheld mode can look blurrier and fluctuate more than Steam Deck, even if the reconstructed image is cleaner in some scenes. The weaker LCD panel, limited HDR, and poorer motion handling also reduce the benefit of better upscaling when played portable. So the answer depends on what “outshine” means. If it means sharper reconstructed visuals and stronger effects per watt, especially on a TV, Switch 2 can beat Steam Deck. If it means the better handheld experience overall, the case is weaker: Steam Deck can still look more stable in motion and often deliver steadier frame pacing or higher frame-rate options. DLSS is a major advantage for Switch 2, but not a universal one.

3 articles · Updated · Nintendo Everything · Jun 10

A new demo-based comparison shows Kingdom Hearts 3 on Nintendo Switch 2 generally landing in the 30-40 FPS range, while the PS5 version appears largely locked at 60 FPS.
The footage suggests Switch 2 still outperforms Steam Deck overall and, when docked, delivers graphical effects broadly comparable to PS5 despite the lower frame rate.
Handheld play brings clearer trade-offs on Nintendo's console, with cuts to resolution and reflections versus the docked presentation.
The comparison follows the game's Switch 2 demo release after Nintendo Direct and highlights a shift from the franchise's earlier cloud-only Switch releases to native versions.
Kingdom Hearts 3 arrives on Switch 2 on October 8 alongside prior entries, with Kingdom Hearts 4 also planned for the system.