Skyrim’s 1.2 Switch 2 Update Adds 60FPS Mode

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Switch 2 is looking and playing better after a new update added a much-requested 60FPS mode and plenty of fixes and tweaks to the game.

In December 2025, Bethesda shadowdropped the 15-year-old open-world RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim onto the Nintendo Switch 2. But unlike the last time the company surprise released an Elder Scrolls game, the reaction to Skyrim on Switch 2 wasn’t positive. Many players were upset over the game’s poor performance, visual glitches, bugs, and bloated install size. Well, Bethesda has fixed some of these problems with a new update out now on Nintendo’s hybrid handheld.

On Tuesday, Bethesda released update 1.2 for Skyrim on the Switch 2. The big news is that this free patch added a 60FPS performance mode. Bethesda has also locked Skyrim‘s framerate to 30FPS when playing in “Prioritize Visuals” mode. Either choice should provide a smoother, more stable experience compared to what Skyrim on Switch 2 played like previously.

In the patch notes for the update shared online on February 17, Bethesda also dedicated two different sections to addressing fixes made to the game’s performance and visual bugs. This includes improved performance in certain areas, like the Talking Stone giant camp and during combat at Secunda’s Kiss. Issues with water not looking correct from a distance or while in a menu have been fixed, too.

While it can be frustrating how often Bethesda seemingly breaks their own classic RPGs with updates and ports, I am happy that the studio seems committed to going back and fixing problems. And hey, if Bethesda doesn’t fix it, at least PC players can rely on talented modders to pick up the slack. Switch 2 and other console players are still at the mercy of Bethesda, though.

Here are the full patch notes for the 1.2 Skyrim update on Switch 2:

• Added a 60 Hz mode under Display settings that allows players to toggle between “Prioritize Visuals” or “Prioritize Performance”.

• In addition, frame rate has been locked at 30 Hz in “Prioritize Visuals” mode for smoother gameplay.

• Fixed a crash that occurred when reading “The Crimson Dirks Vol. 4” book for the “Tilted Scales” quest in German.

• Fixed an audio-related crash.

• Fixed a crash, infinite load, and game freeze that sometimes occurred when rapidly selecting “Load” multiple times in the pause menu.

• Fixed a crash that occurred when the “Transmute Ore” spell was repeatedly cast outside of the Haltered Stream Camp.

• during the Hide and Seek quest in Kynesgrove

• during combat at Secunda’s Kiss

• when discovering the “Drelas’ Cottage” location

• when engaged in combat with a giant at the Talking Stone Camp.

• Viewing water planes from a distance or within menus caused them to shift up and down.

• Distant aspen trees appeared with a blue tint.

• Transitioning out of caves caused an outline of the entrance to linger during the fade-to-back loading screen.

• Switching between mouse and controller mode while in dialogue or the Help menu, caused different options to be highlighted.

• Switching between mouse and controller mode while in help menus or user hints, did not dynamically update callout prompts.

• The “Ready/Sheathe” option was missing from the Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls menu.

• The “Delete” prompt remained grayed-out within the Load menu when swapping between mouse and controller mode.

• Deleting a save in the Save/Load menus reset the highlighted selection to the top of the menu list.

• While in mouse mode, the cursor remained stuck within a smaller section of the screen when changing between docked/undocked modes or interfacing with GameChat.

• The “Eagle Eye” Archery perk remained active after switching between mouse and controller mode.

• Holding down the Right Joystick while reassigning a button caused that button to disappear from the Controls list.

• The Joy-Con 2 controllers provided haptic feedback while in mouse mode.

• Buttons became unresponsive when controls were remapped while moving the Joy-Con 2 controllers in mouse mode.

• Rotating the map in mouse mode was slower and less smooth than in controller mode.