The Nintendo Switch is one of the most-hyped game systems we’ve heard about in a while, and it’s easy to see why because of its hybrid nature as both a portable and connected gaming device. All that hype means lots of attention whenever anything goes wrong, and one of the biggest issues is the jarring frame rate on some games. As it turns out, there could be a very simple fix to those frame rate problems.
Wi-Fi causing frame rate problems on Nintendo Switch
Usually, low frame rates indicate that a device just doesn’t have enough power because it’s having trouble keeping up with the pace of the game, but it sounds like that isn’t what’s happening with the Nintendo Switch. A third-party developer reportedly told NintendoLife that they’re aware of a problem with the Wi-Fi connection that puts extra load on the gaming device’s processor. This is causing low frame rate in some games, especially those that are resource-intensive like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Fast RMX and I am Setsuna.
According to NintendoLife and one of its readers, JunkRabbit, switching off the Wi-Fi on the Nintendo Switch caused the frame rate problems to vanish immediately. To do this, just go into System Settings and turn off the auto-connection option for the Wi-Fi. Another option is to enable Flight Mode, which will disable the gaming device’s Wi-Fi, although Flight Mode doesn’t work while the Switch is docked.
NintendoLife reports that its third-party developer source said Nintendo is aware of the issue and will fix it in a future update to the firmware.
The Nintendo Switch is a huge hit
Nintendo has a lot riding on the Switch, and it’s not only because the Wii U did not do very well. The Japanese gaming giant has already sold about 1.5 million Switch units around the globe, according to SuperData (via gamesindustry.biz). Fans who haven’t bought one yet will be watching the reviews in the coming months, the device won’t continue to sell like hotcakes.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is also a bestseller, as SuperData reports that nine out of ten people who bought a Nintendo Switch bought the game with it. This means that the frame rate issues will be front and center for 90% of those who bought the gaming device, so Nintendo should be making a fix for this Wi-Fi problem a priority.
