Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Hits Switch...With a Catch (Frame Rate Woes!)
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
*Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound*, a new side-scrolling adventure, is heading to Switch but will be limited to 30 FPS at launch, while other platforms get 60 FPS, leaving Switch owners hoping for a future update to improve performance.
Alright, ninja fans, gather 'round! It seems the upcoming side-scrolling action platformer *Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound* is shaping up to be a proper blast from the past, blending that classic 2D feel with some modern flair. The Game Kitchen, those clever folks who brought us the *Blasphemous* games (dark, gothic, brilliant, right?), are at the helm, promising a return to the roots of the *Ninja Gaiden* series. First revealed at The Game Awards last year, *Ragebound* is ditching Ryu Hayabusa for a couple of fresh faces, Kenji Muzo and Kumori, which is a bold move, innit?
Now, here's the *but*. Courtesy of Game Rant, we've learned there's a slight wrinkle if you're planning to slice and dice demons on your Nintendo Switch. While the PC, PlayStation, and Xbox versions are aiming for a silky-smooth 60 frames per second, the Switch version is, shall we say, a tad more…restrained. We're talking a locked 30 FPS at launch. Ouch.
Dotemu, the publisher, broke the news, adding that Switch 2 users (remember the rumours?) *should* see some performance gains thanks to the upgraded hardware via backwards compatibility. But, and this is a big but, they're being coy about exactly how much better it'll run. Will it hit that glorious 60 FPS? Maybe. Will pigs fly first? Possibly.
Look, The Game Kitchen *has* managed 60 FPS on Switch with *Blasphemous* before, which makes this frame rate limitation a bit puzzling. It's got some Switch owners sharpening their katanas in frustration. Fear not, though! Dotemu did mention potential post-launch updates to address this, which means there's a glimmer of hope for a future frame rate boost. Could be a 'wait and see' sort of situation, eh?
Speaking of the future, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for *Ninja Gaiden*. We already got *Ninja Gaiden 2 Black* back in January, *Ragebound* is landing soon, and *Ninja Gaiden 4* (the first proper mainline game in ages!) is slated for October. That's a lot of ninja action! Guess we'll have to keep our eyes peeled (and our reflexes sharp) to see how this all plays out. One thing's for certain, I'll be booting this up on my Steam Deck and seeing what it can *really* do. What platform are you planning on experiencing *Ragebound* on?
Tags: Ninja Gaiden, Nintendo Switch, Frame Rate, Action Platformer, Dotemu
Original article: Game Rant