Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console exhibits considerably worse input lag compared to its PlayStation 5 counterpart, a discrepancy that could place Nintendo players at a disadvantage during online multiplayer matches. According to a technical review by Digital Foundry, multiplayer latency was measured at an average of 81 milliseconds when the Switch 2 was docked and approximately 100 milliseconds in portable mode. This contrasts sharply with the PS5's latency, which was recorded at 49 milliseconds. These measurements were taken using wireless controllers for both platforms, with the Switch 2's portable mode latency fluctuating between 83ms and 125ms.
Digital Foundry described the responsiveness on the Switch 2 as "simply not as good as on other consoles," with the lag in portable mode being "actually deleterious to performance." While the input lag is a significant concern, the port otherwise garners relatively positive remarks. Multiplayer modes generally maintain a steady 60 frames per second, with the impact of frame rate fluctuations being less noticeable on displays that support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
The campaign, however, is capped at 30 frames per second, and the resolution is dynamic. When docked and utilizing DLSS, the game targets a 900p resolution, though Digital Foundry observed it dropping to as low as 450p during intensive scenes, such as a vehicle chase sequence in Paris. In portable mode, the resolution target is 720p, with drops recorded down to 360p.
This marks the return of Call of Duty to Nintendo hardware after a 13-year absence, with the last installment being Ghosts on the Wii U in 2013. The inclusion of Modern Warfare 4 on Switch 2 is a result of a decade-long agreement between Microsoft and Nintendo, established while Microsoft pursued regulatory approval for its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
In related news, Activision has issued an apology to the families affected by the Itaewon crowd crush incident and confirmed its intention to remove real footage of the tragedy from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.