Minecraft Switch 2 version trails PS5 in draw distance, video shows

This is a new development in a story we reported earlier: Review finds Switch 2 Minecraft upgrade worth claiming for digital owners.

Minecraft launched on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, 2026, as a native version optimized for the new console, following Mojang’s August 5, 2026 announcement.

The footage lines up the two versions in Performance and Quality modes, showing where they match up and where they pull apart. The Switch 2 version hits 60 FPS in Performance Mode, and stays there when Vibrant Visuals is off. Quality Mode with the visual enhancement enabled slips into the 30-40 FPS range.

Performance Mode keeps 60 FPS even with Vibrant Visuals on, but pairing the visual enhancement with Quality Mode drops frames to roughly 40 FPS, with some scenes dipping into the 30s. With Vibrant Visuals on in Quality Mode, the Switch 2 version reproduces light and shadow effects nearly identically to the PS5.

The PS5 version pulls ahead in draw distance, rendering distant mountains and forests that the Switch 2 version does not show. Vibrant Visuals, the largest official visual upgrade Minecraft has received, runs by default on the Switch 2 version, adding enhanced lighting, volumetric fog, improved water reflections, directional lighting, and more detailed shadows.

The visual system first appeared in the Chase the Skies update, which Mojang called one of the most significant technical upgrades since the game’s launch. The original Switch hardware could not support the feature, so the Switch 2 release marks the first time it runs on a Nintendo console.

Beebom said certain Marketplace content supports the visual enhancement but players cannot use it in split-screen play. Game*Spark reported that Performance Mode does not have defined settings, so whether Vibrant Visuals appears may depend on the scene. Polygon said Mojang’s recent updates have been smaller and more frequent rather than large annual releases, with the latest drop adding decorative furniture like cushions and beds.

Players can transfer their Nintendo Switch worlds to the Switch 2 version, continuing their builds without starting over, and the carryover works throughout the upgrade offer period. The Switch 2 version comes in three digital tiers: Standard at $29.99, Deluxe at $39.99, and Ultimate at $49.99. The Standard Edition comes with the base game and the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, which includes 15 tracks and 40 player skins inspired by the Super Mario series and has been updated for Vibrant Visuals on Switch 2.

The Deluxe Edition layers on add-ons, exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins. The Ultimate Edition adds even more content, five exclusive Character Creator items, and 1000 Minecoins. In Japan, the Standard Edition costs 4,730 yen, and original Switch digital owners can upgrade for 100 yen until January 31, 2027.

The Switch 2 version supports split-screen local play and cross-platform online play, letting players join community or private servers with up to 10 friends through Realms Plus. Marketplace Pass, also known as Realms Plus, offers 150+ worlds, skin and texture packs, and similar content, with new additions each month.