Unveiling the Spectacular Performance of Grand Theft Auto 5 on the Switch
Tech-savvy gamer achieves the unimaginable: Grand Theft Auto 5 flawlessly running on Nintendo Switch, delivering mind-blowing results
Highlights
Grand Theft Auto 5, even though it is nearly a decade old, maintains remarkable sales figures, with a staggering 180 million units sold thus far.According to a YouTuber's experiment, an attempt was made to play the game on the Nintendo Switch using the Linux operating system. However, this endeavor encountered notable performance issues, as the frame rates remained consistently low, ranging between 6 to 8 frames per second.
A version of the game exclusively optimized for the Switch could potentially yield superior performance. Interestingly, an impressive online video showcases the running of Grand Theft Auto 5 on the Nintendo Switch, revealing unexpected outcomes. Although Rockstar Games launched Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition for the Nintendo Switch in recent years, their immensely popular flagship title, Grand Theft Auto 5, was not released on this platform despite its tremendous success elsewhere.
Despite its upcoming tenth anniversary, the enduring popularity of Grand Theft Auto 5 remains extremely impressive. A recent Take-Two financial report revealed that the game has sold over 180 million units to date, solidifying its position as one of the best-selling games ever created. While players eagerly await its sequel, it seems that the community is content with continuing to play Grand Theft Auto 5 for the foreseeable future.
In a video released by YouTuber Geekerwan, they demonstrate the transformation of the Nintendo Switch into a Steam Deck by installing the Linux operating system. This enables them to run various PC games, including Grand Theft Auto 5. However, the results are far from satisfactory. The console struggles greatly to handle the demands of the game's open world, with the CPU unable to keep up. Despite testing different graphics settings, the gameplay remains unplayable, with a consistent frame rate of only 6 to 8 frames per second. It is possible that an official version of the game optimized for the Switch could yield better results, though.
Geekerwan also examines the performance of other games, such as Devil May Cry 5 and God of War, that are not currently available on Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, the results are similarly disappointing, as the frame rates never reach a playable level, even at lower settings. It is intriguing to observe the struggles of Nintendo Switch, which offers some of the greatest open-world games, when trying to handle a title that was originally released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
The performance of Grand Theft Auto 5 on Nintendo Switch could have implications for the potential arrival of Grand Theft Auto 6 on the platform. While the game is known to be in development, the platforms it will be released on have not yet been confirmed by Rockstar Games. However, if the console already struggles to run a decade-old title, it is possible that the developer may decide to exclude the Switch entirely for the sequel. It should be acknowledged that this version of Grand Theft Auto 5 is technically an emulation, which negatively affects performance, whereas Grand Theft Auto 6 on Switch would be optimized specifically for the platform. If rumors of Grand Theft Auto 6 potentially launching as early as 2024 are accurate, gamers may not have to wait long to discover if it will be available on the platform.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is available now for PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
