Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance offers two graphics modes in Expanded Edition. Performance targets 60 FPS using upscaling and adjusted visual settings; Quality targets 30 FPS and puts more emphasis on the picture. Both options are available in the native Switch 2 release that launched on 28 October 2026.
Expanded Edition also brings 25 buildable tiles instead of nine, a map editor, more precise construction controls and keyboard-and-mouse support. Those improvements are available in either graphics mode.
Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance: 60 FPS vs 30 FPS
Image credit: Paradox Interactive / Cities: Skylines
| Setting | Frame-rate target | Visual priority |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 60 FPS | Upscaling and adjusted quality |
| Quality | 30 FPS | Higher visual fidelity |
Performance is the option to try if you want smoother camera movement while inspecting traffic, junctions and growing districts. Upscaling helps the game work towards its higher frame-rate target while adjusting visual quality.
Quality aims for 30 FPS and favours presentation. It’s an easy choice to understand: a higher target for movement in Performance or a lower target with more visual emphasis in Quality. The same city-building content is available in both.
How to change Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance settings
To try them, open the game’s graphics options and select Performance or Quality. You can compare the look and movement of your existing city without starting a new map.
Start with Performance if you’re regularly zooming across roads and neighbourhoods. If you’re spending time on a detailed district and care more about how it looks, try Quality instead.
Does Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance reach 60 FPS in handheld mode?
Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance modes are part of a game supporting handheld, tabletop and TV play. The official 60 FPS and 30 FPS figures are performance targets, not a promise of a locked frame rate in every city.
The publisher hasn’t specified separate handheld and docked resolutions. Performance uses upscaling, so the pixels on your display aren’t automatically the same as the resolution at which the game renders a scene.
How does Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance handle big cities?
Expanded Edition expands the usable map to 25 tiles, compared with nine on the original Switch. That gives you more room for housing, industrial districts, longer roads and public transport hubs.
Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance matters as a city grows because traffic and services become busier alongside the visuals. A graphics setting alone can’t tell you the simulation speed of a large, fully developed map; actual gameplay measurements are needed for that comparison.
What else is improved over the original Switch game?
The new edition includes a map editor, updated snapping, precision placement, a distance indicator and a quick selection tool. An environmental controls panel adjusts the time of day, rain, fog and environmental colours.
These additions help with designing and managing cities in either graphics mode. Returning players will notice the bigger building area and updated tools as well as the choice between 60 FPS and 30 FPS targets.
Does keyboard and mouse support increase FPS?
Keyboard and mouse support sits alongside normal controller input. Use whichever feels more comfortable for laying roads and lining up buildings. Your input method doesn’t change the two advertised graphics profiles.
The quick selection and placement options are useful for building, but they aren’t frame-rate boosts. The choice between Performance and Quality determines the advertised graphics trade-off.
Best Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance setting
For most players who value smooth movement, Performance is the natural first choice. Quality suits those happier with a 30 FPS target and greater emphasis on visuals. Neither mode changes the 25-tile limit or included DLC.
Cities Skylines Switch 2 performance is therefore a straightforward choice between the developer’s two frame-rate targets. Try each in the same city and keep the one that suits how you play.
Related Guides
Official source: Paradox Interactive: Expanded Edition features and graphics targets
