Skyrim has arrived on the Switch 2, but fans are reporting that the 14-year-old game is having trouble running on the system. Bethesda has re-released the wildly popular RPG on so many platforms that it has become something of a meme in the gaming community. However, many fans are not satisfied with how the latest port The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim it has gone so far.
The shadow of Bethesda has fallen Skyrim on Switch 2 on December 9, 2025, promising improved load times, improved resolution, and general performance issues compared to the version released on the original Switch. The Switch 2 version also includes everything included in the Anniversary Edition of the game, so there's plenty of content to enjoy, and what's even better, anyone who already owns the Switch 1 version can upgrade to the new port for free. While this all sounds great on paper, these promises haven't panned out as many had hoped.
Skyrim fans are reporting poor framerates and input lag on Switch 2
It didn't take long Skyrim dropped on Switch 2 for fans to experience issues with. One user on the Nintendo Switch subreddit called it a “disaster” and noted how difficult it was to even get a free upgrade. According to the user, they had to manually delete all their existing ones Skyrim files before downloading all 53 GB of the new version of the game. Once in the game, they called the input lag “beyond playability” and said Skyrim it only runs at 30 FPS. Skyrim is not unique in this regard Final Fantasy 7 Remake also runs at 30 FPS on Switch 2, but unlike other titles with frame rate issues on the system, Skyrim is over ten years old. Another post on Reddit called it an “absurdly poor effort” and said the input lag and optimizations were so bad they'd rather play the Switch 1 version.
The same complaints of low frame rates, input lag of up to a full second, and difficulty upgrading to a new port were echoed in multiple posts on the Switch i Skyrim subreddits. Many users also reported how the age of the game made the performance issues worse. While Todd Howard stated that he would like Bethesda to support Skyrim for quite some time, the game has not remained untouched since its release, receiving several patches and updates over the years, even on systems that came out long after the title itself. With so much time and experience running Skyrim across platforms, it's easy to see why some fans are surprised to encounter such dramatic issues on the Switch 2.
The Switch 2 version is not the first port Skyrim encounter similar challenges. Some users noted that they remember the original Switch version also faced significant issues at launch, only to see improvements in the coming weeks. Hopefully fixes are on the way for the Switch 2 edition, but it's unclear if or when they might come. Even with its age and bugs, the game has remained a fan favorite since its release 14 years ago. Still in April 2025 SkyrimThe number of players increased and the fans became immersed in it again Oblivion remaster rekindled interest in The Elder Scrolls.
Looking ahead, Microsoft has emphasized its commitment to supporting the Switch 2, so hopefully that means Microsoft-owned Bethesda will be working to fix these issues soon. There can be a future The Elder Scrolls is coming out on Switch 2 in light of these comments, but the future of the series on the platform is uncertain and things are still frustrating Skyrim fans at the moment.
- Released
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November 11, 2011
- ESRB
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M For Adults 17+ due to blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
- Developers
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Bethesda Game Studios
- Publishers
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Bethesda Softworks
