Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 players using a Nintendo Switch 2 may face a significant responsiveness gap in competitive Multiplayer, according to performance testing by Digital Foundry reported by IGN. The analysis found that input lag on Nintendo’s console can be substantially higher than on PlayStation 5, even when the game is targeting 60 frames per second.
The finding matters most in modes where quick reactions are central to play. Digital Foundry measured 81 milliseconds of input lag in docked mode and 100ms in portable mode on Switch 2. The portable result was approximately twice the 49.1ms measured on PS5 at 60fps.
“Actually deleterious to performance.” — Digital Foundry, describing the effect of the Switch 2 version’s responsiveness in portable Multiplayer
Portable mode records the largest gap
Digital Foundry’s testing found that portable Multiplayer input lag ranged from 83ms at its best to 125ms at its worst. That variability adds another concern for players who use the Switch 2 away from a television, where the console’s performance is already more constrained than in docked mode.
Multiplayer on Switch 2 is designed to run at 60fps and reportedly reaches that target most of the time. The frame rate can still fall in certain situations, including when looking through the transparent visor of a riot shield. Variable Refresh Rate support can help smooth frame-rate drops on compatible displays, Digital Foundry said, although that feature does not remove the input-response difference measured between the platforms.
| Platform or mode | Measured input lag |
|---|---|
| PS5 at 60fps | 49.1ms |
| Switch 2 docked | 81ms |
| Switch 2 portable | 100ms |
| Switch 2 portable range | 83ms to 125ms |
What Switch 2 players should know
The Nintendo version is the first Call of Duty release on a Nintendo console since 2013’s Ghosts. Port specialist Digital Legends handled the Switch 2 version with support from Infinity Ward. IGN reported that Digital Foundry was generally positive about the port, but identified the responsiveness issue as a clear disadvantage for competitive Multiplayer.
The performance picture differs outside Multiplayer. The Campaign runs at 30fps, according to the report, while Multiplayer targets 60fps. The input-lag measurements specifically concern the competitive Multiplayer experience, so they should not be treated as a measurement of every mode or feature in the game.
- Switch 2 docked mode measured 81ms of input lag.
- Portable mode measured 100ms on average, with results from 83ms to 125ms.
- PS5 at 60fps measured 49.1ms in Digital Foundry’s comparison.
The report does not state a separate Philippine availability or pricing change for the Switch 2 version. For players in the Philippines using the console for cross-platform Multiplayer, the testing indicates that the platform’s higher input latency may affect competitive matches even when the game reaches its 60fps target.
