Reggie on why Red Dead Redemption 2 isn't on Switch

[Bofferbrauer2]

DonFerrari said:

Miyamotoo said:

This was my original post that made reply to:

"Well Reggie is right, I mean game was like 7 years in development, while completely different thing is that Rockstar wouldnt release RDR2 on Switch in any case.

Saying that, no one expecting RDR2 on Switch in any case, same couldn't be said for GTA V."

Is that your way to avoid saying clearly that even if RDR2 started development after Switch was know it wouldn't be made for it anyway? GTA V runs on X360 and PS3 and still got no port for Switch.

Bofferbrauer2 said:

They can't run 3D models, so that would make a direct port impossible.

For the Switch however, it should very much be in the realm of possible:

1. Smaller, lower resolution textures (saves massively on memory an install size)

2. Remove most grass-like vegetation (they cost a lot of processing power)

3. Tessellation off, potentially lower polygon models (same effect as above)

4. Simplify lighting and potentially physics; remove any post-processing (again, less processing power. All 3 taken together also ease up alot on the bandwith already)

5. Lower resolution (720x1280 target and 540x960 minimum for undocked, anything over 720p for docked) and target 30fps framerate

All these steps, taken together, should allow the game to run on Switch. The experience would probably be lesser, but it's definitely not impossible to run that game on Switch. 

Yes, slaughter all the game and it will run... in other news they could make a RDR2 version for PS1/N64 since both can handle 3D.

ANY game can be ported to almost any console. The point is what will be the end result and how much work will it take? Should the result be called the same name as the original source material?

And are you under the agreement that if Switch was already know by the time of early development of RDR2 it would have been launched on it?

Not necessarily would (especially coming from the Wii U flop would certainly made them wary, besides no PC port means not being ported everywhere anyway), but chances are it could. Like I explained there's no technical reason for it not to run on Switch. If ARK: Survival Evolved can run on Switch, then RDR2 certainly could, too.

@bolded: Not with their Shader technology (among other things). Those Shaders also kill of any potential PS360 (but not necessarily a Wii U version) - you would need to rewrite half the code to port the game to them.

Last edited by Bofferbrauer2 - on 13 December 2018