The possibility of seeing Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 working in a Nintendo Switch 2 The rumor is making waves again, but this time not because of an isolated whisper, but because of the explicit interest from one of the industry's leading porting studios: Virtuos. The team has publicly put itself forward to handle these versions, fueling the expectations of those who dream of enjoying these titles on a portable device.
For now, there is no official announcement From Rockstar Games, Take-Two, or Nintendo, everything remains in the realm of intentions and wishes. Even so, statements from Virtuos executives, coupled with rumors circulating for months in Europe and the rest of the world, paint a picture in which the arrival of these two heavyweights on Nintendo's next hybrid console seems, at the very least, technically plausible.
Virtuos raises its hand to bring Rockstar's greatest hits to Switch 2
The name Virtuos may not be as well-known as some other development studios, but it is recognized within the industry as one of the leading specialists in ports, remasters and co-developmentThey don't focus so much on creating original works as on adapting high-profile titles to new platforms, which has allowed them to work with some of the most powerful franchises on the market.
Among the projects in which the studio has participated are: Dark Souls Remastered, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Age of Mythology: Retold or Judasas well as highly anticipated remasters like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. In addition, there were complex conversions for Nintendo consoles, such as XCOM 2 and The Outer Worlds, which demonstrated their ability to push less powerful hardware to its limits without ruining the gameplay experience.
The direct connection with Rockstar goes back a long way: Virtuos was responsible for the port of LA Noire for the original Nintendo SwitchThis game surprised much of the industry at the time due to its faithfulness to the console version. It arrived on the hybrid console almost entirely intact, something considered a rarity at the time.
In a recent interview with Pocket Tactics on the occasion of LA Noire's 15th anniversary, both Virtuos' technical director, Andy Fong, and other studio executives acknowledged that His great desire now is to adapt GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 to Nintendo Switch and the future Switch 2They explain that they are big fans of Rockstar's games and believe they could shine again in a portable environment if the right adjustments are made.
A studio with a proven track record on Nintendo consoles
Virtuos' track record with Nintendo consoles is one of the strongest arguments when considering a potential commission. Beyond L.A. Noire, The studio has proven capable of adapting very demanding games to the Japanese company's hybrid ecosystem, maintaining a reasonable balance between visual quality, performance and energy consumption.
The port of L.A. Noire for SwitchReleased in 2017, it garnered considerable praise precisely because it retained the complete campaign and offered an experience very close to the original, despite the necessary technical compromises. At the time, there was even talk that the game "shouldn't run so well" on the console, which helped cement the studio's reputation as a "specialist in the impossible."
From there, Virtuos has worked on other major titles that have also appeared on Nintendo platforms or on hardware with limited power, such as XCOM 2 or The Outer WorldsFurthermore, they have been involved in current high-budget projects, including Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, with versions planned for the next generation of consoles, including the highly anticipated Switch 2 in some cases.
This trajectory reinforces the idea that This is not a simple empty statement.Rather, it's an offer backed by years of experience in this type of work. In any case, the final decision rests with Take-Two and Rockstar, who must decide whether it's worthwhile to open a new commercial chapter for games that have already been dominating the market for some time.
Can Nintendo Switch 2 move GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2?
One of the most recurring debates during the commercial life of the Nintendo Switch is whether the console's hardware would be able to handle GTA V nativelySo far, the absence of both this title and Red Dead Redemption 2 in the hybrid console's catalog is perceived as an anomaly, especially considering that other installments of the Grand Theft Auto saga and different Rockstar projects have arrived.
In the case of the Nintendo Switch 2, leaks and unofficial reports point to a considerable leap in power compared to the current modelIncluding support for modern technologies upscaling capabilities and, at least on paper, sufficient capacity to run games that run on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One without too many problems. Since both GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 run on those consoles, the technical foundation is already in place.
The sources consulted in the various reports indicate that the Nintendo Switch 2 would have dedicated ray tracing hardware and NVIDIA DLSS compatibilityThis, applied to a port of the "Enhanced" version of GTA V and a hypothetical optimized edition of Red Dead Redemption 2, would allow for a competitive image without needing to reach the native resolutions of more powerful consoles, relying on intelligent upscaling techniques.
The people behind Virtuos maintain that, with the right approach, Hardware limitations should not be an insurmountable obstacle.The goal would be to prioritize performance stability and gameplay experience over extreme detail, something Nintendo's audience is already accustomed to in other ports of open-world titles.
Statements from the studio and rumors surrounding the ports
In his statements to Pocket Tactics, Andy Fong was quite clear: The Virtuos team is "eager" to adapt Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 to Nintendo SwitchBeyond the enthusiasm, he insisted that the studio is a fan of these franchises and that they sincerely believe they could make both games "shine again" in a portable format, bringing them to an even wider audience.
Another Virtuos executive, delivery director Jake DiGennaro, recalled that the port of LA Noire for Switch was directly powered by NintendoThis greatly facilitated the collaboration with Rockstar. He explained that there was an immediate connection between the two companies, with a shared understanding of quality and a mutual respect for what the game meant to its fans—something that isn't always the case in these types of projects.
These statements are in addition to the Persistent rumors about a possible port of Red Dead Redemption 2 to Nintendo Switch 2These games have been the subject of discussion for months in European gaming media and among industry sources. Some reports even suggest possible versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, although none have been officially announced to date.
At the same time, it has been suggested that Rockstar is reportedly exploring the possibility of bringing GTA VI to Switch 2This, if confirmed, could complicate GTA V's arrival on the new console if the company decides to focus all its efforts on the latest installment. However, given GTA V's sales volume and enormous player base, releasing both games simultaneously is also a possibility, if the numbers add up.
Economic interests for Rockstar, Take-Two and Nintendo
From a purely business perspective, the possible versions of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 for Nintendo Switch would be especially attractive to Rockstar and Take-TwoBoth titles have been generating millions in revenue for years, both from direct sales and from their online modes, and a launch on a new platform would open the door to another marketing cycle.
For Nintendo, adding these games to the Switch 2 catalog would mean to strengthen the console's appeal to European and Spanish audienceswhere open-world titles and major Western productions have a significant presence. Being able to announce that the Switch's successor boasts two of the most acclaimed games of the last decade would be a powerful selling point against other consoles.
On the other hand, the arrival of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 on a hybrid device It would broaden the range of ways to play: short sessions in handheld mode, longer games in docked mode connected to the television, and, in general, a flexibility that could convince both veteran players and new users who were not encouraged by previous versions.
The key question remains whether Rockstar believes that the technical and adaptation effort is worth the potential benefitsVirtuos has already made it clear that it is prepared and willing, but the ball is in the publisher's court, who will have to assess the fit, schedule and resources in a context in which GTA VI also claims its share of the spotlight.
Current status: only intentions and no confirmation
As of today, the only certainty is the words from the Virtuos team expressing their interest in taking on the challenge. There is no official statement, teaser, or release window for hypothetical versions of GTA V or Red Dead Redemption 2 on Nintendo Switch 2, nor for the current console. All that is available are rumors, partial leaks, and the history of collaboration between the companies involved.
The comments from Fong and other study officials have generated a notable level of speculation within the communityEspecially among European gamers who have seen the Nintendo Switch become saturated with great ports in recent years, but still haven't received these two key Rockstar titles. The general feeling is that, if it's going to happen, the ideal time would be at the start of the Switch 2's sales cycle.
Until there is a formal announcement, Any specific date or technical detail falls into the realm of conjecture.Neither Rockstar nor Nintendo have offered any clear clues about it, beyond their history of collaboration, which includes the remastered Grand Theft Auto trilogy, the aforementioned LA Noire, and the arrival of the first Red Dead Redemption on the current Switch.
Meanwhile, Virtuos continues working on their other high-profile projects and consolidating its image as reference study in complex portsIf he is ultimately tasked with adapting GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 for the Switch family, it will be largely because he has already demonstrated on more than one occasion that he can handle this type of challenge.
Given this scenario, the possible arrival of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 on Nintendo Switch 2 For now, it remains a combination of public wishful thinking, proven technical capabilities, and informed speculation. Players, both in Spain and the rest of Europe, are watching closely the next moves of Rockstar, Take-Two, and Nintendo, waiting for official confirmation to finally clear up the doubt that has lingered for years.
