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Farsala on 30 January 2023
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curl-6 said:
Farsala said:

From what I understand it is still significantly more difficult to optimize for the Switch even for low tech games. Small developers also have less people to work on ports.

The creators of Eiyuden Chronicle- 100 Heroes spoke out against low spec hardware. Here is a quote from their Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rabbitandbearstudios/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes/description

"The elephant in the room is that while nobody knows what Nintendo's plans are for when this game releases, in just about every major Japanese game crowdfunding campaign, when a lower spec hardware has been listed on the campaign, it has invariably been too expensive, often times requiring downgrading textures, massive amounts of code rewrites, effectively meaning building two games.

For anyone that has backed one of these campaigns, you obviously know the outcome. These platforms usually get cancelled or dropped from the campaign. So again, in keeping with 100% transparency for what is an incredibly difficult problem, if the console stretch goal is cleared, we will create a version of the game for Nintendo hardware.

Hopefully, that will be something akin to a Switch 2, allowing for similar quality and gameplay experiences across all platforms. In the end, if no such console is announced by the time we need to create new console version branches, we will go through the major challenges of the aforementioned texture changes and code rewrites, or refund any backers who pledged to the platform, if there is absolutely no solution."

This game is by all means not cutting edge, and even though they surpassed the kickstarter goal for the Switch version within days in 2020, they did not announce that they were making a 1. Switch version until May 2022.

This is clear evidence of a developer explaining why Switch ports are very difficult compared to other platforms. Bold for emphasis.

1. The same team later changed their mind and decided to bring Hundred Heroes to Switch though: 

https://www.gematsu.com/2022/05/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-adds-switch-version

2. Also a key word is "port". If a game is built from the ground up for much stronger hardware than naturally work will have to be done to adapt it, but if you build it for the Switch from the start, that won't be necessary. 

Most non-AAA Japanese games have a Switch version, and most of them come out the same day as the PS version.

1. I feel like you are not even reading my post, because I literally already said that in my post.

2. That is the exact same problem except in reverse. However it is always easier for developers to start with the PC or similar x86 architecture game consoles like the PS5 or XBS than the Switch's Arm. The Switch version whether built from the ground up or a port will always take longer than other versions and thus be seen as a delay for the other versions. These companies release their games same day for the benefit of each individual consumer to not feel singled out by releasing late ports. It is much better marketing for all sales to be on the same day, same thing as having a worldwide release.

Basically I am saying that when companies release games for the Switch, they are actually really passionate and confident in the Switch version.

I am not criticizing the Switch having the Arm, because I think it is necessary for the Switch to be the Switch IE: portable. But it is the reality of the situation that it would make ports or games built from the ground as the more difficult option unless they are Exclusive.