60fps tears of the kingdom

OP Authors 2025

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16-03-2025

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60 FPS Tears of the Kingdom: A Dream Come True (Mostly)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the highly anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild, finally arrived, and with it, a crucial question for many players: does it run at a consistent 60 frames per second (fps)? The answer, unfortunately, isn't a simple yes or no. While Nintendo aimed for a smoother experience than its predecessor, the reality is a bit more nuanced.

The Target: A Smoother Hyrule

Nintendo clearly prioritized a significant performance upgrade over Breath of the Wild's often choppy frame rate. 60fps was the stated goal, and in many situations, Tears of the Kingdom delivers on that promise. Vast, open areas with minimal on-screen action often boast a rock-solid 60fps, allowing for a significantly more fluid and responsive experience than the sometimes sluggish performance of its predecessor. Exploration feels incredibly liberating, and the game's beautiful world truly shines when rendered at this higher frame rate.

The Challenges: Maintaining the Magic

However, reaching that coveted 60fps isn't always achieved. More demanding scenarios, such as:

• Areas with intense particle effects: Explosions, large-scale magic spells, and numerous environmental effects can cause noticeable dips.
• Densely populated areas: Crowded sections of towns or battlefields can tax the system.
• Complex vehicle interactions: Using vehicles like Zonai devices can sometimes introduce frame rate inconsistencies.

These dips aren't always game-breaking, but they are noticeable, particularly for players accustomed to consistently smooth 60fps gameplay. The frequency and severity of these drops seem to vary depending on the specific area and the hardware being used (Switch vs. OLED Switch).

Platform Considerations: Switch vs. OLED Switch

While both Switch models aim for the same 60fps target, anecdotal evidence suggests the OLED Switch generally provides a more stable experience. Its slightly more powerful hardware may be better equipped to handle the demanding visuals of Tears of the Kingdom. However, even on the OLED, those occasional frame rate dips will still occur under heavy load.

Overall Impression: A Significant Improvement

Despite the occasional hiccups, Tears of the Kingdom represents a significant leap forward in performance compared to Breath of the Wild. The majority of gameplay occurs at or very near the target 60fps, resulting in a much more responsive and enjoyable experience. The improvements are undeniable and greatly enhance the overall feel of the game.

For players prioritizing a rock-solid, unwavering 60fps, some compromise might be necessary. However, the vast majority of players will find the performance improvement in Tears of the Kingdom to be a satisfying upgrade and a worthwhile trade-off for the game's stunning world and innovative gameplay mechanics. The quest for a consistently smooth Hyrule continues, but Tears of the Kingdom is a significant step in the right direction.