Nintendo Switch Running Windows 11 Is a Tech Nightmare Unfolded

Many have experimented with modding their Nintendo Switch consoles, but installing Windows 11 on it might be the most disastrous attempt yet. Recently, X/Twitter user PatRyk managed to pull off this feat, but the results were far from impressive. The process involved installing Fedora Linux via an SD card and then using a Windows 11 ARM QEMU script while reallocating 4 cores and 3GB of RAM. The end result? A sluggish, borderline unusable system where even the simplest tasks take ages to complete.

Don't expect to play any Xbox Game Pass titles or even run light applications smoothly on a Windows 11 Nintendo Switch. The performance is abysmal, with every action taking several seconds to register. Yes, it’s Windows 11, but it’s a far cry from being functional. The console simply wasn’t designed to handle such a demanding operating system, and it shows. This experiment mainly serves as a cautionary tale rather than a practical solution for anyone adventurous enough to try it.

Thankfully, a modded Switch isn’t limited to this tragic Windows 11 experiment. When modded correctly, with overclocked CPU, GPU, and RAM, the console can perform significantly better. Games like The Witcher 3 and Hogwarts Legacy can run more smoothly, offering a much improved gaming experience. Furthermore, the console can also output at resolutions higher than 1080p, which is a major plus. For example, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom can be played at 1440p with playable frame rates, which is quite impressive.

Looking ahead, with the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, there’s hope for even better performance. Rumors have been rife, and Nintendo has finally acknowledged the development of its new system. If the new console can live up to the hype, it might even support these enhancements natively. Backward compatibility could mean that games currently improved via modding might run seamlessly on the new hardware without any additional tinkering.

In summary, while running Windows 11 on a Nintendo Switch sounds like a fascinating experiment, the reality is far from practical. The console's hardware just isn't up to the task. Nonetheless, there are valid and advantageous modifications that can greatly improve the gaming experience on a modded Switch. With the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, we can only hope that these performance enhancements will become the norm, offering native high-resolution gaming to everyone. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.