When it came time to bring Hogwarts Legacy to Nintendo Switch™ 2, we faced a pivotal decision: do we simply port over our Nintendo Switch system version, or build from the ground up to capture the true potential of Nintendo’s next-generation hardware?
“The easy path would have been to do the up port from Nintendo Switch,” says Rob Nelson, our VP of Technology. “But we felt like we were able to create a better realization of our world by starting with the next generation assets.” That decision challenged us to deliver a richer, more immersive Hogwarts, one that aligns with the vision we originally had for the game.
With that in mind, the team took full advantage of the upgraded tech of the Nintendo Switch 2 system. We rebuilt core assets to utilize improved processing power, resulting in higher texture resolutions, dynamic lighting, smoother framerates, and denser crowds throughout Hogwarts and its surrounding world. Improved audio technology allowed us to deepen the environmental magic, from trickling fountains to echoing castle chambers. Seamless open-world traversal and swift loading let players move between the castle, Hogsmeade, and the surrounding countryside more naturally than ever before. Every upgrade serves to make the castle and its grounds feel truly alive, something Rob describes as “the full realization of our vision for Hogwarts Legacy.”
But bringing the Wizarding World to life on Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t just about visuals and performance. We’ve harnessed new Nintendo Switch 2 features, including refined motion controls for precise spell-casting and even more responsive broom flight. Menu navigation and inventory management are now enhanced through touchscreen support, making spell slots and gear swaps feel effortless. And with the new Joy-Con™ 2 controllers, you can use mouse-style pointer controls, bringing a new layer of precision and accessibility to magical exploration.
These additions are about the feel of the game as much as functionality. “We were able to leverage the touchscreen, the increased screen size, the extra processing power… that allowed us to have higher frame rates,” says Rob. “All of these elements together let us get closer to that vision of making Hogwarts feel real, like you’re walking those halls yourself.” Additionally, GameChat support brings friends together, from sharing discoveries to collaborating on magical challenges, making Hogwarts more connected than ever.

We also know how important your in-game journey is. That’s why we’ve made sure you can carry your progress forward, supporting a one-way save transfer from Hogwarts Legacy on Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch 2.
Hogwarts Legacy for Nintendo Switch 2 is now available. For us, this release is a continued celebration of the world we love. As Rob says in reflecting on our journey, “I just hope [players] feel the largeness of the game, the magic of the world, the expansiveness of the castle… just the overall fantasy of being a witch or a wizard in the Harry Potter universe.”
We’re proud to help turn the page on this exciting new chapter, one filled with greater immersion, new adventures, and the kind of magic that never stops growing.
And now your Hogwarts story is bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever on Nintendo Switch 2.