The Crew: Motorfest Switch 2 Review: A Fair but Uneven Trade

Dock the Switch 2 and Motorfest still targets 1080p at 30fps. I appreciate having a straightforward technical target, but the absence of a higher-frame-rate option on the television makes this conversion harder to embrace without reservations.

The driving is still the strongest argument

Ubisoft released The Crew Motorfest on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 8, 2026. Its Hawaii setting is a large, seamless playground for road racing, off-road driving, drifting and themed car-culture campaigns. That range gives the portable version a substantial reason to exist: the appeal extends beyond repeatedly running the same kind of race.

The Switch 2 edition includes the full game, more than 30 themed playlists and hundreds of vehicles. I value the themed campaigns more than the vehicle count alone, because they give that breadth a focus. For someone seeking a handheld driving game with room to explore different disciplines, the package has a convincing pull.

The arcade-style driving remains enjoyable despite the cuts. That is the decisive point in the port’s favour. Reduced environmental detail is easier to accept when the activity at the centre of the game still holds its appeal, although it cannot excuse every compromise surrounding it.

1080p leaves plenty of room for visual compromises

Both handheld and TV modes have a 1080p, 30fps target, and the Switch 2 version has no 60fps performance option. Those specifications describe the output target; they do not tell you how detailed the world will look. Here, scene complexity is a substantial part of the sacrifice.

The conversion reduces draw distance, simplifies lighting and lowers texture quality. Distant scenery and roadside objects can appear later or look less dense, while softer textures reduce detail on buildings, terrain and nearby surfaces. Simplified lighting also takes some richness out of sunsets, night driving and shaded areas. These are meaningful losses in a game whose setting is part of the attraction.

The smaller handheld screen makes texture softness and distant pop-in less conspicuous; a large television exposes those cuts more readily. I find the bargain much more persuasive in handheld mode. On a television, the reduced detail is harder to overlook, and portability contributes nothing to the experience while the console stays docked.

The 30fps ceiling also makes steering, camera movement and high-speed cornering less fluid than at 60fps. For cruising and working through themed playlists, I consider that an acceptable compromise. For drivers who put smooth motion at the centre of their enjoyment, it is a much more serious limitation than a softer roadside texture.

Handheld access comes with an internet requirement

The Switch 2 edition requires a constant internet connection and a Ubisoft account. That requirement puts an important boundary around the portable appeal. Before buying for travel, consider whether you will actually have a connection wherever you intend to drive; carrying the console with you does not make Motorfest an offline option.

The physical release is a game-key card that requires a download and installation, rather than a fully self-contained cartridge. Buyers choosing a boxed copy still need to account for that download. Neither the handheld format nor the physical box removes the connection-related caveats.

Buy for handheld play; wait if the television comes first

Buy now if you want Motorfest’s open-world driving specifically in your hands, can reliably stay connected and are comfortable with 30fps. The strongest fit is the player interested in cruising, exploring Hawaii and moving through its themed playlists, with visual fidelity a secondary concern.

Wait if television play will dominate, or hold off entirely if 60fps is essential to your enjoyment of racing. I would not buy this conversion merely to leave it docked: that means accepting its most visible compromises while barely using its strongest advantage.