Virtuos aims to port GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 to Nintendo Switch
Key Takeaways
- Virtuos development team is highly motivated to port Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 to the Nintendo Switch hardware.
- The studio previously engineered the technically demanding 2017 Nintendo Switch port of Rockstar’s L.A. Noire.
- Virtuos has extensive experience managing severe hardware constraints for major titles, including XCOM 2 and The Outer Worlds.
Virtuos Aims for Rockstar’s Biggest Hits
The technical boundaries of Nintendo’s hybrid console continue to be pushed by seasoned port specialists. In a recent interview with Pocket Tactics celebrating the 15th anniversary of L.A. Noire, Virtuos technical director Andy Fong made a notable revelation regarding the studio’s future ambitions.
When asked which major properties the team would like to tackle next, Fong explicitly named Rockstar Games’ two biggest intellectual properties. He stated that the development team is incredibly eager to adapt Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 for the Nintendo Switch platform, believing both titles could find a massive new audience in a portable format.
Grand Theft Auto V has achieved over 225 million lifetime sales across multiple generations, while Red Dead Redemption 2 sits at more than 82 million copies shipped. Bringing either of these titles to the platform could provide a significant commercial boost, opening the experiences to a dedicated handheld player base that has not yet accessed them.
To celebrate 15 years of L.A. Noire, we sit down with Virtuos to chat about porting it to Nintendo Switch and what Rockstar game it hopes to tackle next 🎮️ https://t.co/Ymqgsvo3y7 #RockstarGames #LANoire #GTA6@virtuosgames
— Pocket Tactics (@PocketTactics) May 17, 2026
Can the original Nintendo Switch Run GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2?
Yes, it is entirely possible with significant optimization, as demonstrated by previous complex ports. While Grand Theft Auto 5 originally targeted older architectures like the Xbox 360, Red Dead Redemption 2 presents a far steeper technical hurdle that would require advanced optimization techniques, customized culling systems, and careful asset management to run reliably on the hybrid hardware.
Virtuos is no stranger to handling hardware constraints. The studio has built a solid industry reputation by successfully bringing demanding titles to less powerful platforms, including ports of XCOM 2 and The Outer Worlds. The team’s optimism stems from their extensive experience working within strict memory and processing budgets to maximize fidelity.
Also, learn more about the rumors surrounding a Nintendo Switch 2 port of GTA 6 being developed!
Lessons From the L.A. Noire Port
The foundation for a potential future collaboration between Virtuos and Rockstar Games was laid nearly a decade ago. In 2017, Virtuos engineered the Nintendo Switch version of L.A. Noire, marking the first time a Rockstar title appeared on a Nintendo system since Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars in 2009.
The project required a complete architectural overhaul to make it viable for portable play. The development team had to upgrade the game from a legacy 32-bit application to a modern 64-bit structure so the system could properly utilize its available memory pool.
To resolve severe graphical bottlenecks, Virtuos implemented a custom voxel-based occlusion culling system. This technique significantly lessened the load on the hardware by ensuring the game engine completely stopped processing objects that were obscured or out of the immediate field of view of the player.
Beyond their history with Rockstar, Virtuos remains heavily involved in high-profile development projects across the industry. The studio is currently working on Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater for modern platforms, and successfully launched The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered last year, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version currently planned for release later down the road.
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A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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