Summary
Nintendo fans recently learned thatHyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonmentshould have a better frame rate and more enemies, thanks to the more powerful Switch 2 hardware. WhileHyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonmentstill does not have a release date, players have already received several looks at the upcoming hack-and-slash game developed by Koei Tecmo.
First announced during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct on April 2,Age of Imprisonmentis one of many games scheduled to come to the new console. The next installment in theHyrule Warriorsseries is expected to tell a story about theevents leading up to 2023’sTears of the Kingdomand focuses on Princess Zelda as she travels back in time to the Imprisoning War. Besides a canonical story, the game will feature more of the chaotic action the series is known for. While the battles inAge of Calamityon the original Switch struggled with frame rate issues, the development team forAge of Imprisonmentlooks committed to bringing solid performance to the new game.
In a new Creator’s Voice video, producer Ryota Matsushita and AAA games studio head Yosuke Hayashi discussed the upcoming game and highlighted the Switch 2. According to Matsushita, the more powerful hardware allowed the development team to add more enemies to battles. While he noted that more does not always mean better, he said it added to the “realism and excitement of the battlefield” in the case ofAge of Imprisonment.
Switch 2 Will Offer Better Frame Rate for Age of Imprisonment
Besides adding even more enemies to the fray, the Switch 2 will allow the game to run at a better frame rate. Hayashi emphasized the importance of better performance forAge of Imprisonmentcompared toAge of Calamityon the original Switch. These improvements were showcased in several gameplay clips seen in the Creator’s Voice video, with the game appearing to run at 60fps for the most part. This is a big deal for series fans, asAge of Calamityoften struggled to reach 30fpson the Switch, causing a choppy experience.
It is worth noting that not muchgameplay forAge of Imprisonmenthas been revealed so far. As a result, it is impossible to know how smooth the performance will be throughout the story. Nevertheless, the comments from Matsushita and Hayashi are promising. In addition, the game is still in development, meaning the developers will continue to refine the experience in the months leading up to release.
WhileAge of Imprisonmentis not coming until sometime this winter,Tears of the KingdomandBreath of the Wildwill be getting Switch 2 upgrades at the system’s launch. As part of thelineup of Switch 2 Edition games, players can pay to upgrade these games to receive enhanced resolutions, frame rates, and more on the more powerful hardware. With all of theseZelda-related updates coming in 2025, fans have a lot to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is an all-new Warriors title developed by Koei Tecmo that takes place before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom.
