Explained: Call of Duty Warzone on Switch

Is COD Warzone on Switch? It’s complicated. Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision came with an exciting promise: a 10-year deal with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty games to its consoles.

But how likely is it that Warzone will run smoothly on the Switch’s hardware? Here’s a look at what’s been announced, the technical possibilities, and what fans might expect if Warzone makes its way to Nintendo’s console.

Is CoD Warzone on Switch?

Right now, Warzone is not available on the Nintendo Switch. But Microsoft, after purchasing Activision, announced a 10-year deal with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty games to Nintendo consoles. 

This is part of Microsoft’s plan to make Call of Duty available to more players across different devices.

Can you play Warzone on Switch in the future?

Microsoft has not confirmed that Warzone will specifically come to the Switch, but they believe it’s possible. In a document submitted to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Microsoft explained that the Switch could likely handle Warzone.

They pointed out that Warzone already runs on older devices like 2015 PCs and Xbox One, which are similar to the Switch in hardware capabilities. Microsoft also highlighted that Warzone is available on mobile devices, which have lower performance specs than the Switch, further suggesting it could work on Nintendo’s platform.

What might COD Warzone on the Switch look like?

Because the Switch isn’t as powerful as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, Warzone on the Switch might have to use simpler graphics and lower resolution to run smoothly. This is similar to how games like Fortnite, Doom Eternal, and Apex Legends run on the Switch—they look different than on other consoles, but they’re still enjoyable.

If Warzone does come to the Switch, Microsoft aims to make it cross-platform compatible, meaning Switch players could play with others on Xbox, PlayStation, or PC. 

Challenges in adapting Warzone for the Switch

Getting Warzone to run well on the Switch will be challenging. One issue is that Warzone games can have up to 150 players, which could be demanding for the Switch’s hardware. Additionally, cross-platform play means that the Switch version would need to perform well enough to keep up with more powerful consoles. If Warzone Mobile is a possibility, then Warzone for Switch is certainly feasible too!

Microsoft, however, is confident that the team can handle this. In their CMA document, Microsoft noted Activision’s long history of optimizing games for various devices. The document highlighted examples of graphically intense games successfully adapted to run on the Switch, like Apex Legends and Fortnite. With similar techniques, they believe Warzone could be made to work smoothly on Nintendo’s system.