Can you play the new Pokémon Legends: Z-A game on the original Switch? Or is it only available on the Switch 2?
The newest Pokémon title is here, Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Being the second title in the Legends series, fans are incredibly excited to see just where the game's story goes and how it feels to explore Lumiose City (Pokémon X and Y) again. However, is the game only available on the Switch 2? Or can you also play Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the original Switch?
Can you play Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the original Switch?
The short answer is yes, you can play Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the original Switch. In fact, Nintendo has released two separate versions of the game. One of these versions is dedicated specifically to the Switch 2 and the other to the original Switch.
You could technically play the original Switch version on the Switch 2, but it will not look or run as great as the Switch 2 version. And they are the same price, so why would you go down that route anyway?
The game can also be played on the Switch OLED, making it universally playable on all Switch devices. However, be warned that if you do not have a Switch 2, it will not run as well.
How does the game run on the original Switch?
It would seem that these newer Pokémon games have a difficult time running well on the Switch. In fact, since the first Legends game, fans have noticed quite a few different glitches in Pokémon's first take on open-world video games.
I mean, we all played Scarlet and Violet, right? Those games were horrendous when it came to glitches. It just would seem that the regular Switch does not have the capability to support large open-world Pokémon games, even though Zelda did completely fine.
However, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is based primarily in Lumiose City, making the map a bit smaller and taking away some of the load that other recent Pokémon games had. Still, the game runs nowhere as smoothly as it does on the Switch 2. With its new hardware, the Switch 2 is essentially an Xbox Series X or PS5 in your hands, making it take on games like Pokémon Legends: Z-A quite easily.
Obviously, affording a Switch 2 in this market is not easy, but if you are able to get one to play the new Legends game, then it is highly recommended. I mean, why not play the game at its best?
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