Okay, so, “Genshin Impact on Switch,” right? Let me tell you, it’s been a journey, and not exactly the smooth ride I was hoping for. Buckle up!
The Dream: Imagine Genshin, but portable. I could grind commissions on the train, explore Teyvat during lunch breaks – the possibilities were endless! So, naturally, when I heard rumors about a Switch version way back when, I got hyped.
The Reality Check: Years passed. Radio silence from Hoyoverse. My Switch started collecting dust (sorry, Mario). I kinda gave up on the dream. Then, I stumbled across some forum posts talking about folks getting it running…sort of. That reignited the spark, but also introduced a whole heap of technical stuff I wasn’t ready for.
The Dive In (and Faceplant): Turns out, getting Genshin “running” on Switch usually involves using a custom Android OS on your Switch via a process called “dual-booting” or something similar. This voids your warranty and could potentially brick your Switch, so I ain’t responsible if you mess yours up! Anyway, first, I had to research which custom OS was the least janky. Settled on one that seemed relatively stable, downloaded all the necessary files (which took forever), and then came the actual installation. This involved a lot of button combinations, navigating confusing menus, and praying I didn’t mess anything up. I almost bricked it like twice, seriously.
Android on Switch: Not Exactly Prime Time: Okay, so I managed to get Android running. Victory, right? Wrong. The Switch hardware isn’t exactly a powerhouse for Android. The interface was laggy, everything felt sluggish. Just navigating the menus was a chore. Then came the Google Play Store, another hurdle. Had to sideload it because it wasn’t pre-installed, and even then, it was glitchy as heck.
Genshin Time (Finally?): After what felt like an eternity, I finally got Genshin Impact downloaded. Booted it up, and… oh boy. The graphics were clearly set to the lowest settings, but it was STILL struggling. Frame rates were all over the place. Combat was a slideshow. It looked like someone smeared vaseline all over my screen. I managed to stumble around Mondstadt for about 15 minutes, but it was basically unplayable.
The Tweaks: Okay, I’m stubborn. Figured I could tweak the settings, mess with performance modes, SOMETHING to make it better. I spent hours digging through forums, trying different configurations, overclocking the Switch (which made it run HOT, by the way). I managed to squeeze out a few extra frames, but it was still far from a smooth experience.
The Verdict: Genshin Impact on Switch? Technically possible. Actually enjoyable? Not really. It’s a laggy, blurry mess. The Switch hardware just isn’t powerful enough to handle it without significant compromises. I mean, it works but it’s basically like playing with a potato.
The Takeaway: Maybe someday, Hoyoverse will actually release a proper optimized version for the Switch (or its successor). Until then, I’ll stick to playing on my phone or PC. It was a fun experiment, but honestly, the hassle wasn’t worth it. My advice? Save yourself the headache, stick to the official platforms. Unless you REALLY enjoy tinkering and don’t mind a subpar experience.
