Jagex Admits RuneScape: Dragonwilds Switch 2 Port Looks Bad, Promises Incremental Visual Overhaul

Developer Jagex has openly acknowledged that its survival-crafting title RuneScape: Dragonwilds looks worse on Nintendo’s Switch 2 than on competing consoles, promising a slow, patch-by-patch visual overhaul to fix the blurry graphics and rough lighting that have drawn criticism from players since the game’s console launch. The survival game, which shipped on PlayStation 5 and Xbox alongside a major 1.0 update last week, has been well-received on those platforms, but the Switch 2 version has come under fire for its visual presentation, prompting Jagex to post a lengthy note to Switch 2 owners on Twitter on Thursday. While the studio confirmed the game runs at a stable framerate, it conceded that the current build is “not where we want it to be today, visually,” and committed to improving the experience over time.

The complaints began rolling in shortly after the port went live, with players largely praising the game’s performance but taking issue with how the visuals rendered on Nintendo’s hardware. According to Jagex, the most noticeable problems involve shadows and lighting, which appear rough on the Switch 2, along with blurriness that becomes apparent when playing on a connected television. The developer noted that the framerate itself is solid, isolating the criticism to image clarity rather than technical instability. Rather than delivering a single comprehensive update, Jagex indicated that the visual work would unfold gradually, with improvements released incrementally across multiple future patches.

A Long-Term Commitment to the Switch 2 Version

Addressing the community directly, Jagex framed the situation as part of an ongoing dedication to the Switch 2 platform rather than a one-off fix. The studio emphasized that it approaches the console version with the same seriousness it applies to its other releases, and it made clear that resolving the visual shortcomings would require sustained effort. Jagex stressed that the fixes would not arrive all at once, warning players that the visual refinements would trickle in over an extended period through a series of updates.

“The Switch 2 build is not where we want it to be today, visually.” As a dev team, and as Nintendo fans, we are not fully satisfied with where the game is on Nintendo Switch 2 and we are committed to work on improving the visuals. Dragonwilds support is a long-term commitment for Jagex, and so is the Switch 2 version of our game.

Jagex

The developer outlined its specific plans, noting that it is working on improving image clarity and undertaking an engine overhaul to address the rougher rendering. Jagex made clear that these changes would be delivered incrementally, with the studio promising to release updates whenever it believes it has achieved meaningful visual progress. “What we can promise is that we will update the game whenever we find that we’ve made visual improvements,” the statement read, with Jagex expecting “several patches throughout the future.”

Fixing the Store Page’s Misleading Screenshots

Beyond the in-game visuals, Jagex also addressed a separate complaint from players who felt that the version of Dragonwilds they received on Switch 2 did not match the promotional screenshots currently displayed on the Nintendo eShop store page. The developer confirmed that it had already submitted new assets to Nintendo for the store listing, which are intended to more accurately represent how the game actually looks on Switch 2 hardware. Jagex positioned this correction as part of its broader effort to ensure the title presents fairly to prospective buyers on the platform.

“We’re committed to making sure that Dragonwilds looks and plays its best on handheld consoles alongside our other platforms,” concluded Jagex. “And we hope you’ll continue to give us feedback and support as we carry our journey on beyond 1.0.”

Jagex

The visual discrepancies have been echoed across the broader Switch 2 port landscape, where other titles have similarly faced criticism for ports that fall short of their marketing materials. Jagex’s willingness to publicly acknowledge the shortcomings and outline a concrete path forward places it among developers taking responsibility for the state of their Switch 2 releases. The incremental approach mirrors a common industry pattern, where ports are refined over time through successive patches rather than being resolved in a single update.

Looking Ahead

With the 1.0 update already delivered and the console version now in the hands of players, Jagex’s focus shifts toward the visual refinements that will arrive in the coming months. The studio has committed to releasing patches whenever it believes it has made genuine progress on image clarity and the engine overhaul, meaning the current blurry visuals and rough lighting are expected to improve gradually. Jagex has also asked the community to keep providing feedback, signaling that player input will continue to shape the direction of the Switch 2 port. As the incremental patches roll out, the question for the Dragonwilds community will be how quickly Jagex can close the gap between the Switch 2 experience and the polished performance seen on PlayStation and Xbox.