Warframe on Nintendo Switch 2: Why the Native Port in 2026 Could Be the Best Way to Play

Digital Extremes has confirmed that Warframe will land on Nintendo Switch 2 with a native version in 2026. That timing means a longer wait than many fans hoped – some expected it to arrive before the end of 2025 – but the studio says it plans to release the port as early as it reasonably can in the new year. In other words, the team is prioritizing polish over speed, and for a game that thrives on fluid combat, responsiveness, and visual clarity, that choice makes sense.

During a recent livestream, the developers showcased the Switch 2 build running in handheld mode with NVIDIA DLSS enabled. The brief footage didn’t come with hard numbers – no confirmed resolution or frame rate targets – but the overall presentation looked clean and stable, with sharper edges and reduced shimmer compared to what longtime Switch players are used to. DLSS, an upscaling and reconstruction technology, can turn lighter renders into crisp final frames, and that’s especially helpful on a portable device where power budgets are tight.

Crucially, Digital Extremes has not locked down final specs. That transparency matters: rather than promising figures that might shift late in development, the studio is signaling that optimization is ongoing. Given Warframe’s history of constant updates and technical iteration, it’s reasonable to expect the team to keep tuning right up to launch.

Impatient Tenno do have a stopgap. Thanks to backward compatibility, you can run the original Switch version on the new hardware. The catch is familiar: the legacy release never looked or performed particularly well by modern standards, and if you’re chasing the smoothest movement, fastest loads, and highest clarity, the native Switch 2 build is the one to watch. Waiting for the 2026 port should translate into better image quality, steadier performance, and – if the livestream is any indication – meaningful handheld upgrades with DLSS on.

Beyond raw specs, a native port also unlocks headroom for future updates. Warframe lives on rapid content drops, new frames, events, and reworks. A stronger baseline on Switch 2 should help the game keep pace with other platforms without painful compromises. Digital Extremes didn’t outline feature differences, but the studio’s track record suggests the goal is content parity wherever possible.

Bottom line: the delay stings, but the upside is clear. The native Switch 2 version already looks promising in handheld footage, and leaving exact numbers unannounced now gives the developers space to ship something that feels great on day one. If you just want to dabble, backward compatibility will cover you. If you want the best portable Warframe experience, 2026 is the target to circle.