Ubisoft has recently shed light on the technical advancements implemented to ensure that Assassin’s Creed Shadows runs smoothly at 30 FPS on the Nintendo Switch 2, particularly with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) enabled. In an interview with FRVR, the development team, including Nicolas Lopez, the rendering technical architect, Sebastian Daigneault, the rendering project lead, and Bruno Champoux, the engine project lead, detailed the innovative techniques employed in the game’s port.
The Anvil Engine utilized for Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a unique approach by effectively presenting the same frame twice within a single render period. This clever manipulation effectively doubles the perceived frame rate, permitting VRR functionality even when the frame rates fall below the typical threshold of 40 Hz. Consequently, both Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws have adopted this frame rate trick, helping them achieve the stable 30 FPS target essential for an optimal gaming experience.
Moreover, this technique has been integrated into the Anvil Engine’s architecture and is set to be utilized in future Ubisoft titles on the Nintendo Switch 2. This progress not only enhances the current capabilities for these games but also sets the stage for additional Anvil Engine titles to benefit from similar optimizations on the Switch 2 in the near future. In a collaborative effort, Ubisoft is also working alongside Nintendo to extend VRR support at lower frame rates to a broader range of games, highlighting a commitment to improving gaming performance on the platform.
Overall, these enhancements signify a promising future for Ubisoft’s offerings on the Nintendo Switch 2, paving the way for richer gaming experiences that leverage advanced graphical technologies.