Metroid Dread was one of the standout titles of 2021, bringing Samus back in a fast, fluid 2.5D adventure that blended classic exploration with modern mechanics. It ran impressively well on the Nintendo Switch, but with the Switch 2 on the horizon, fans are starting to wonder: Could Dread get a performance patch or update to take full advantage of the new hardware?
Developed by MercurySteam, Metroid Dread delivered slick action and tight frame pacing, maintaining a stable 60 FPS across both docked and handheld modes. That said, it ran at 900p docked and 720p handheld, and like many Switch titles, some of its visual fidelity was sacrificed for performance—including relatively low texture detail and minor aliasing.
On the Switch 2, Dread could benefit from native 1080p in handheld mode, cleaner image quality, and sharper lighting effects, all without compromising performance. If Nintendo aims to showcase how the Switch 2 can enhance its back catalog, Metroid Dread is a prime candidate—it’s already technically polished, and a patch could elevate it further into showcase territory.
There’s no official word from Nintendo yet, but if the company is planning enhanced updates for key titles, Dread has a strong case. Its fast-paced gameplay, atmospheric tension, and responsive controls could all benefit from even minor hardware-driven refinements.
