Pokemon Violet Performance Issues Are They Fixed Or Still Annoying

When Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launched in November 2022, fans were excited for the first open-world entries in the mainline series. But alongside the ambitious new design came a wave of technical problems—especially in Pokémon Violet. Players reported inconsistent frame rates, long loading screens, texture pop-in, and game-breaking bugs. Nearly two years later, with multiple patches and the release of DLCs like The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, many are asking: are these performance issues finally resolved?

The short answer is: improved, but not fully fixed. While Game Freak has rolled out several updates that address major crashes and stability concerns, core performance limitations remain, especially on the base Nintendo Switch model. For players considering jumping into Violet for the first time—or returning after an early exit—here’s what you need to know.

What Were the Original Performance Issues?

At launch, Pokémon Violet suffered from some of the most noticeable technical flaws seen in a first-party Nintendo title. The shift to a full 3D open world on aging hardware pushed the Switch to its limits, resulting in:

• Severe frame rate drops (often dipping below 20 FPS in busy areas)
• Long and frequent loading screens between regions and indoors
• Texture and object pop-in even at close range
• Collision detection errors causing characters to clip through terrain
• Gameplay-breaking bugs such as NPCs failing to trigger events
• Audio stuttering during weather transitions or cutscenes

These weren’t just cosmetic; they impacted gameplay. Trainers missed turn-based actions due to input lag, wild Pokémon failed to appear mid-battle, and overworld traversal felt sluggish. Critics noted the poor optimization, with outlets like Digital Foundry calling the technical state “unforgivable” for a flagship release.

“Scarlet and Violet represent a low point in technical execution for a major Nintendo franchise.” — John Linneman, Digital Foundry

Have the Patches Made a Difference?

Game Freak released five major patches between December 2022 and August 2023. These addressed specific bugs and stability issues, though not all were performance-related. Here's a breakdown of key improvements:

Patch	Date	Key Fixes
Version 1.1.0	Dec 2022	Fixed crash when entering certain buildings, reduced texture flickering
Version 1.1.1	Jan 2023	Improved frame rate consistency in Paldea towns
Version 1.2.0	Feb 2023	Reduced NPC clipping, fixed battle transition freezes
Version 1.3.0	Apr 2023	Optimized camera movement, improved load times by ~15%
Version 1.3.1	Aug 2023	Resolved post-DLC save corruption bug, minor FPS boost

The cumulative effect of these patches has been positive. Most players no longer experience random crashes or progression-blocking bugs. However, frame pacing remains inconsistent, particularly in areas like Kitakami Village (The Teal Mask) or Blueberry Academy (The Indigo Disk), where dense foliage and dynamic weather push rendering demands higher.

Tip: Always play in docked mode if possible—many users report more stable frame rates compared to handheld mode.

Current State in 2024: Is It Playable?

Yes—but with caveats. As of April 2024, Pokémon Violet is functional and largely stable, but it’s far from polished. On a base Nintendo Switch, expect:

• Framerate: 25–30 FPS average outdoors, dropping to 15–20 FPS during rain, snow, or in crowded zones like stadiums.
• Loading Times: 10–20 seconds when transitioning between major regions; slightly faster after SSD-equipped systems (e.g., OLED model).
• Visual Fidelity: Textures still pop in noticeably, especially when flying. Distant models appear abruptly.
• Bug Frequency: Rare game-breaking bugs now, but occasional dialogue skips or quest markers failing to update persist.

The Nintendo Switch OLED shows marginal gains due to its slightly faster internal storage, but the CPU and GPU remain unchanged. The upcoming Switch 2 (expected late 2024) may eventually deliver a native patch, but for now, players must accept the limitations.

In a mini case study, Sarah M., a player from Austin, Texas, returned to Pokémon Violet in March 2024 after quitting at launch:

“I gave it another shot after hearing the patches helped. It’s definitely better—no crashes so far, and I finished the main story without getting stuck. But the choppiness during trainer battles still bothers me. My son plays fine on handheld, but I notice every frame drop when trying to dodge Tera Raid attacks.”

Her experience reflects a common sentiment: the game is tolerable, especially for dedicated fans, but not ideal.

Practical Tips to Improve Your Experience

You can’t rewrite the engine, but you can optimize your setup and habits to reduce frustration. Consider these actionable steps:

Tip: Close background apps before launching the game. Even small memory leaks affect performance on the Switch.

1. Play in Docked Mode: Offers more consistent power delivery and cooling, leading to steadier performance.
2. Lower Camera Movement Speed: Reduces strain on rendering when scanning large areas quickly.
3. Avoid Busy Times in Multiplayer: Tera Raids with four players increase draw calls—expect stutters during summon animations.
4. Save Frequently: Use manual saves before entering new zones or starting story missions.
5. Keep System Updated: Ensure both the game and console OS are on the latest versions.
6. Use Wired Internet: If playing online features, a wired LAN adapter reduces network instability during co-op.

Performance Comparison: Base vs. OLED vs. Future-Proofing

While the hardware is identical under the hood, real-world usage varies slightly across Switch models:

Metric	Base Switch	Switch OLED	Expected (Switch 2)
Average FPS (Open World)	22–28	24–30	Target 50–60
Loading Time (Region Transition)	18 sec	14 sec	~5 sec (est.)
Texture Pop-In Distance	High (visible within 5m)	Moderate	Minimal (est.)
Thermal Throttling	Frequent in handheld	Less common	Unlikely

The OLED model’s superior screen and storage help immersion, but don’t eliminate core flaws. True resolution only comes with new hardware.

Expert Insight: Why Optimization Remains Challenging

The root cause lies in Game Freak’s development pipeline. Unlike studios using mature engines like Unreal, Game Freak relies on proprietary tools with limited optimization history. According to Masato Kinugawa, former director at Bandai Namco who worked on Tales of Arise, porting modern open worlds to older hardware requires aggressive asset streaming and LOD (level of detail) management—techniques that appear underdeveloped in Violet.

“The issue isn’t just raw power—it’s how efficiently assets are loaded and rendered. Many third-party titles run smoother on Switch because they budget resources tightly from day one. When you see constant pop-in, it means the streaming system is overwhelmed.” — Masato Kinugawa, Technical Director

This suggests that while patches fix surface-level bugs, the foundational architecture limits how much further performance can scale without a complete rebuild.

FAQ: Common Questions About Pokémon Violet Performance

Are Pokémon Scarlet and Violet equally affected?

Yes. Both versions share the same engine, map, and codebase. Any performance issue in Violet exists in Scarlet, and vice versa. The only differences are version-exclusive Pokémon and slight visual themes.

Will there be a remaster or enhanced version?

Nothing has been announced, but industry analysts believe a remaster is likely once the Switch 2 launches. Given the commercial success (over 25 million copies sold), a re-release with improved textures, stable framerates, and reduced loading times would appeal to both new and returning players.

Can mods fix performance on PC emulators?

On high-end PCs using Yuzu or Ryujinx, yes—players can achieve 60 FPS with modded shaders and texture packs. However, this requires significant technical knowledge and powerful hardware. Also, emulation of recent titles remains legally and ethically contentious.

Checklist: Before You Play Pokémon Violet in 2024

Ensure the best possible experience with this pre-play checklist:

• ✅ Update Pokémon Violet to version 1.3.1 or later
• ✅ Update your Nintendo Switch system software
• ✅ Free up at least 10GB of storage space
• ✅ Charge your console fully or use AC power
• ✅ Set screen brightness to medium or lower (helps thermal management)
• ✅ Enable airplane mode if not using online features (reduces background processes)
• ✅ Start a new save file after patching to avoid legacy data conflicts

Final Verdict: Improved, But Still Flawed

Pokémon Violet is no longer the broken mess it was at launch. Thanks to persistent patching, it’s now a playable, mostly stable RPG that delivers on its core promise: a vast, explorable world filled with Pokémon discovery and emotional storytelling. For fans invested in the journey, the technical shortcomings may fade into the background.

Yet, objectively, it remains poorly optimized. Frame rate inconsistency, long loads, and visual glitches are still present. These aren’t quirks—they’re symptoms of rushed development and inadequate testing. While Game Freak deserves credit for ongoing support, the fact that such issues existed in a $60 flagship title speaks to broader concerns about quality control in modern game publishing.

If you love Pokémon and can tolerate rough edges, go ahead and enjoy the adventure. But if smooth performance and technical polish are priorities, consider waiting for a potential remaster—or at least playing on the most capable hardware available.

🚀 Ready to dive in? Update your game, grab your Joy-Cons, and start your Paldea journey—just keep expectations realistic. Have thoughts on Violet's performance? Share your experience below and help others decide whether to jump in now or wait for a true fix.