Unreal Engine 5 Innovations May Enhance Graphics on Nintendo Switch 2

A promising development in game technology could soon enhance the visual capabilities of lower-end devices like the Nintendo Switch 2. A new feature added to Unreal Engine 5’s main development branch is set to revolutionize Lumen performance, potentially allowing this lighting technology to be used effectively on more modest hardware.

Unreal Engine 5’s New Lumen Feature

Reports suggest that the new Lumen Irradiance Cache is now available in Unreal Engine 5. This probe-based Lumen mode is designed for devices with lower processing power. While it may not match the occlusion detail and reflection quality of the default Hardware Lumen, it offers a viable alternative for systems where Lumen was previously unfeasible. A comparison video highlights these trade-offs, showcasing the technology’s potential.

Implications for Nintendo Switch 2

Though still in early development stages, the Lumen Irradiance Cache is promising for lower-power devices. According to information captured from a now-removed GitHub commit, the Lumen Radiance Cache can increase the Lumen gather stage speed by 2.5 times, resulting in an overall scene speedup of 1.5. This version of Lumen could make Unreal Engine 5’s lighting features feasible on hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2. Currently, games on the console, such as Cronos: The New Dawn, lack Lumen support due to CPU constraints.

As titles like Fortnite also struggle with implementing Lumen and Nanite on the Nintendo Switch 2, there’s a clear need for engine optimization specific to this platform. This new Lumen option marks a step towards achieving compatibility, potentially enabling future Switch 2 games to closer match their counterparts on other consoles in visual quality.