Fortnite has been running on Nintendo Switch since 2018, and since 5 June 2025 it has a separate release for Switch 2. It isn’t just the old game running on new hardware; it’s its own version. This article covers how the two differ, what to expect from each and whether it makes sense to play Fortnite on Switch when seasoned mouse players are out there.
Two versions, not one
| Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Available since | 2018 | 5 June 2025 |
| Release type | Original version | Separate release for the new hardware |
| Where to download | Nintendo eShop | Nintendo eShop |
| Price | Free on both | |
The difference between them comes down to what the hardware can handle. The original Switch is a console from 2017, and Fortnite has grown a lot since then. The Switch 2 version accounts for that and makes use of the new console’s performance.
Who do you play against?
This is the question that comes up most often with Switch, and the answer is reassuring. Fortnite has crossplay across all platforms, but when searching for a match it considers your input method, not your console. If you play on Switch with a controller, you mostly meet other controller players, not people on mouse and keyboard.
Watch out for one thing, though: if you invite a friend who plays on PC with a mouse into your party, the whole party moves into tougher matches. On Switch, that means a noticeable jump in difficulty.
What Switch doesn’t change
Your account is shared. If you sign in with the same Epic Games account, you have the same skins, the same progress and the same Battle Pass on Switch as on any other device. You never buy anything twice.
The game is free on Switch too and you only pay for looks, so the upfront cost is zero.
When Switch makes sense
As a portable console you can play anywhere, and as a second device alongside your main one. For players who treat Fortnite as casual fun on the side, it’s a perfectly good choice.
If performance and the smoothest possible gameplay matter to you, go for the Switch 2 or another platform. Fortnite runs on PC, both generations of PlayStation and Xbox, and mobile.
FAQ
Yes, since 2018, and it’s free. You download it from the Nintendo eShop.
Yes. A separate release for Switch 2 came out on 5 June 2025.
Usually not. The game matches by input method, so on controller you mostly meet other controller players.
Yes, as long as you use the same Epic Games account. Skins and the Battle Pass are tied to the account.
No, it’s free. You only pay for cosmetics, just like everywhere else.