When Can “Stray” be Available on the Nintendo Switch?

When Stray was released in August 2022, it took the gaming world by storm. Dubbed ‘the cat game’ shortly afterward, Stray went on to win the Best Debut Indie and Best Indie categories at the Game Awards a few months later. Stray is a well-loved game; everybody, including their mom, played, meowed, and pranced around as the feline. It was undoubtedly one of the most wholesome and gripping games of 2022. If you have a PC, PS4, or PS5, you can play Stray; you’re out of luck if you only have a Switch or an Xbox in your gaming arsenal. However, that might change soon.

Overview of Stray’s Plot

Stray’s plot is as straightforward as they come, but I’ll try not to give away too much to avoid spoilers. You play as a stray cat that’s been separated from their friends. Your goal is to return to your home, where the flora and fauna are, but it’s easier said than done. After a life-threatening mishap, the furry feline ends up in a futuristic city filled with robots and dangers that lurk in the corner. You’ll encounter many interesting and quirky characters, puzzles to solve, and a gripping story as you accompany the cat (and his friend) to the surface.

Still Unavailable On the Nintendo Switch

Stray is currently unavailable on the Nintendo Switch, and sadly, there’s no guarantee that the game will be released on this console. The Switch’s power is much inferior to the other platforms the cat simulator can play on. But there is still hope; it’s not uncommon for developers to port their games on multiple platforms. Since Stray only has a limited-time exclusive release, there’s a chance for it to make its way to Nintendo’s hybrid console.

Stray is Coming to Xbox

Stray first launched on PC and PlayStation consoles in 2022, but now that the game doesn’t have an exclusivity deal, Xbox players got their grubby little paws on the acclaimed title! Stray just released for the Xbox on August 10, 2023. You can refer to the trailer below to confirm the news.

Embed link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCDnpYpI6iA

The Only Way for Stray to Be Available on the Switch

Since Stray is now on Xbox, you probably think there’s also a chance it could come to the Nintendo Switch, right? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s impossible. The Switch’s hardware is strongly outdated, and with Stray featuring impressive 3D graphics, it’s bound to overheat the handheld or at least let its internal fans go wild.

Then again, the system requirements for Stray are low on PCs. You only need 8GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti or AMD Radeon R7 360 GPU, and an Intel Core i5-2550K or AMD FX-8350 CPU. Those are the minimum requirements to play Stray on the PC platform. Going with that logic, there may be hope for a port, but there’s only one way for it to be available on the Nintendo Switch: cloud gaming.

Cloud Gaming On the Switch Isn’t Exactly Great

Nintendo has a healthy number of ‘Cloud Version’ games available for the Switch. These titles don’t run natively on the console but are streamed to the console via the internet while running on servers elsewhere. Playing games through cloud streaming has pros and cons—mostly cons.

The requirement to have a strong internet connection and latency to maintain a smooth experience is one that many people struggle with. You have no control over when your access to the game will be revoked and the service will be turned off. Perhaps the only positive I can give towards cloud gaming is that it’s a convenient way for you to play titles that otherwise might not have been possible to play on the Switch’s outdated hardware. For studios that don’t have a budget to release a Switch-specific version of their game digitally or physically, a cloud version can be their saving grace.

Stray becoming available through the cloud is the only way to become available on the Nintendo Switch. However, based on the reputation that cloud games typically have, don’t hold your breath thinking it’ll run just as great as it was on the PS5.