Modern Warfare 4 on Switch 2 has much worse input lag than PS5
Digital Foundry found that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has substantially higher input lag on Switch 2 than on PS5, which could make multiplayer less responsive for Nintendo players. The findings highlight a performance trade-off in the series’ return to Nintendo hardware after 13 years.
Measured multiplayer latency was 81ms on a docked Switch 2 and averaged 100ms in portable mode, compared with 49ms on PS5. Portable results ranged from 83ms to 125ms; testing used wireless controllers on both consoles. The port otherwise runs multiplayer at mostly 60fps, while its campaign is capped at 30fps, with dynamic resolution that can fall below its 900p docked and 720p portable targets.
In short
- Switch 2 multiplayer latency is higher than PS5’s.
- Portable mode averaged 100ms, versus 49ms on PS5.
- Multiplayer mostly runs at 60fps; the campaign is capped at 30fps.
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The case for
The Switch 2 version brings a major multiplayer series back to Nintendo hardware and generally maintains 60fps, giving players another way to play with friends or on the move. Its higher measured latency may be an acceptable trade-off for portability and access to the game on a different console, particularly for players who are less sensitive to input delay.
The case against
In a competitive multiplayer game, responsiveness can affect whether players’ actions register in time, and the reported 81ms docked and 100ms average portable latency is substantially higher than the PS5’s 49ms. Players may reasonably see that gap, alongside a campaign capped at 30fps and reduced resolution, as a meaningful compromise in a full-price release rather than a minor technical difference.
Explained simply
Call of Duty is a long-running series of military action games, with both a story campaign and online multiplayer matches. Modern Warfare is one of its sub-series, and the latest game is available on Nintendo’s Switch 2 as well as Sony’s PlayStation 5.
Input lag is the delay between pressing a button and seeing the action happen on screen. In fast online matches, that delay can affect how quickly players aim or react, so differences between consoles may matter to people choosing where to play. The Switch 2 version brings the series back to Nintendo hardware after a 13-year gap.