Despite its laundry list of bug, glitches, and crashing to desktop issues, the PC version of Cyberpunk 2077 is, both obviously and unsurprisingly, widely accepted as the better option to play the game. But while both the PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Xbox One had their day in the sun, the Nintendo Switch was never a launch candidate, for equally obvious reasons.
Believe it or not, though, it is possible to run and play Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch, a feat that was proven by hardware modder, Nintendrew, albeit with a few conditions. By conditions, we mean that you will need to hack the Switch and execute some programs on it.
On another note, Nintendrew makes it clear that he isn’t running the game natively from the Switch and is instead streaming it from a high-end PC system. That brings us to another point: pulling off this feat requires a subscription Google Stadia and access to the game.
Technically speaking, Google Stadia may market its service as a mobile console of sorts, with the ability to launch any owned game in your library, anytime and anywhere. Provided that you have a steady connection to the internet. But, much like NVIDIA’s GeForce Now service, these services give gamers access to powerful, premium hardware housed within their own facilities, saving consumers the trouble of having to purchase a high-end PC for themselves.
Now, it goes without saying that Nintendrew’s “hacking” isn’t legal, especially in the eyes of the Switch’s parent company, especially since it can lead to a permanent ban from the company if it catches you. Also, doing this may not be a good idea for some, particularly because you can actually brick the console if you mess up.
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Once Nintendrew got it running, though, the gameplay looked smooth – it is technically streaming at 720p, which could possibly explain why that is the case – and the controller response was serviceable, but the lag in response time can definitely be seen.
Love it or leave it, seeing Cyberpunk 2077 being played on a console that clearly wasn’t meant to play does evoke a feeling of catharsis, almost as though you’re eating the forbidden fruit.
(Source: Nintendrew via Tom’s Hardware)
