Digital Foundry calls FF7 Remake Intergrade the best-looking Switch 2 game

The prettiest Switch 2 game so far? Let’s talk about Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

This caught my attention because Square Enix’s history on Nintendo hardware is complicated. On the original Switch we got some excellent native ports (Nier: Automata, Crisis Core: Reunion) but also some clumsy cloud versions (Kingdom Hearts, anyone?). So hearing Digital Foundry call Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade “the most beautiful thing” they saw running on Nintendo Switch 2 at gamescom made my ears perk up. If true, it’s a statement about what this hardware can really do with a big, modern third‑party game – even if it’s targeting 30 frames per second.

• Digital Foundry says image quality is “absolutely superb,” landing somewhere between PS4 and PS5 versions.
• The build shown targets 30 fps – not ideal, but potentially fine for this style of action RPG.
• Intergrade on Switch 2 reportedly includes Yuffie’s INTERmission episode.
• No release date yet, so all of this is based on show-floor impressions, not final code.

Breaking down the claim: pretty, polished – and 30 fps

According to DF’s gamescom chat, FF7 Remake Intergrade on Switch 2 looks “fantastic,” with image quality “absolutely superb.” They place it visually between PS4 and PS5 — which is exactly the kind of positioning I hoped we’d see from third‑party ports on Nintendo’s new machine. The 30 fps cap will bother some players (especially coming from PS5’s 60 fps modes), but if it’s consistent and paired with solid motion blur, good frame pacing, and smart reconstruction, this could still feel great in both docked and handheld play.

What’s likely happening here is aggressive temporal upscaling and careful settings triage: dialing back certain effects (shadow resolution, ray-traced substitutes, volumetrics density) while keeping art direction and post-processing intact to maintain that “next‑gen look.” DF’s praise for image stability suggests a strong antialiasing and reconstruction solution, which matters way more on a 7‑inch handheld screen than raw pixel counts.

Why this matters for Switch 2’s third‑party future

If Intergrade really sits between PS4 and PS5 visually, that sets an encouraging baseline: PS4‑era showpieces with meaningful upgrades can land on Switch 2 without resorting to cloud versions. That’s the story here. Not just “FF7 looks nice,” but “Switch 2 can hang with modern third‑party pipelines when developers commit.” For players, that could mean more genuine ports and fewer streaming compromises — the difference between taking your JRPGs truly on the go and being tethered to a connection.

It also reframes expectations for the library. The original Switch pulled off miracles like The Witcher 3, but they were miracles with huge tradeoffs. Switch 2 doesn’t need miracles if it can consistently deliver PS4‑plus visuals at stable frame rates. If Square Enix is leading with an ambitious port that includes the Yuffie INTERmission content, it nudges other publishers to stop treating Nintendo hardware as an afterthought.

The big unknowns Square Enix still needs to answer

• Handheld vs. docked parity: Does the 30 fps target hold in both modes, and how does resolution scale on the go?
• Frame pacing and latency: FF7R’s hybrid real‑time combat feels worse with uneven pacing than with a flat 30. This will make or break it.
• Cartridge and storage: Intergrade is a chunky install elsewhere. Will Square Enix spring for a larger cart, or offload big downloads to players?
• Visual settings: Is there a “Performance” option, or is 30 fps the only mode? On PS5, choice mattered. On Switch 2, stability might be the wiser call.
• Loading and streaming: The PS5 version’s SSD cut loads significantly. Switch 2 won’t match that, but good asset streaming could keep traversal smooth.

None of this derails DF’s excitement, but it’s why I’m keeping my hype in check until we get hands-on time outside a controlled show environment. We’ve all been burned by vertical slices that don’t reflect final performance.

Square Enix on Nintendo: when they commit, it shows

Square Enix has swung between excellent handheld‑minded releases and baffling decisions on Nintendo platforms. Nier: Automata’s Switch port was a bit of a masterclass in smart compromises; Kingdom Hearts in the cloud was… not. Crisis Core: Reunion proved their internal teams can scale across hardware gracefully. FF7 Remake Intergrade landing this well on Switch 2 would put the “cloud as a crutch” era firmly in the rear-view and signal that the new hardware earns real engineering time.

I’m also curious what this implies for future entries. If Intergrade hits, do we see Rebirth next? A staggered release is realistic, but the door would be open. And for players who skipped the PS5 version, a strong Switch 2 edition with INTERmission included is an appealing all‑in package.

Bottom line for players

Digital Foundry calling Intergrade the best-looking Switch 2 game so far is a big vote of confidence for the console’s third‑party prospects. A locked 30 isn’t glamorous in 2025, but for this kind of cinematic action RPG, pristine image quality and steady pacing often trump chasing 60 and missing it. If Square Enix nails the fundamentals — consistent performance, sensible storage demands, and handheld‑friendly presentation — this could be one of the Switch 2’s defining ports.

Now we just need the date. Until then, consider me excited but skeptical — exactly where I like to be with big, beautiful promises.

TL;DR

Digital Foundry says FF7 Remake Intergrade is the best-looking Switch 2 game shown at gamescom, with visuals between PS4 and PS5 at 30 fps. That’s a great sign for third‑party support — just don’t crown it yet until we see real‑world performance, storage plans, and handheld behavior.