Review Round-Up: FF7 Intergrade Dazzles on Switch 2, Plus Death Stranding & Ubisoft's Shake-Up

A New Era of Portability: January 21, 2026

By ModVC Staff

It is a Wednesday evening, January 21, 2026, and the gaming landscape feels like it is shifting beneath our feet yet again. Today has been a whirlwind of high highs and crushing lows for the industry. On one hand, we are witnessing the technical marvel of Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade running natively on the successor to the Nintendo Switch. On the other, the industry reels from the shocking news out of Ubisoft, confirming the cancellation of six major projects, including the long-troubled Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake.

At ModVC, we believe in covering the full spectrum of the medium. From the AAA blockbusters defining the new console generation to the indie darlings fighting for space on your dashboard, here is our comprehensive review round-up and daily digest for January 21.

Feature Review: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Switch 2)

When rumors first circulated that the Switch 2 would target PS4 Pro levels of performance with DLSS-like upscaling, many were skeptical. Could a handheld hybrid truly handle the particle-heavy, texture-rich world of Midgar? After spending 40 hours with Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Nintendo's new hardware, the answer is a resounding yes.

Performance & Visuals

Square Enix has performed a optimization miracle here. Running in docked mode, the game hits a stable 1440p upscaled resolution, maintaining a locked 30fps that feels incredibly smooth thanks to consistent frame pacing. In handheld mode, the game shines on the Switch 2's new OLED panel. The HDR implementation in the Mako Reactor sectors is stunning, with neon greens and industrial grays popping against the deep blacks.

Unlike the compromised cloud versions of the past generation, this is native code. The texture pop-in that plagued the original PS4 release is virtually nonexistent here, likely due to the Switch 2's faster NVMe storage solution. Loading times are snappy, transitioning from combat to cutscenes in seconds.

The Intergrade Content

The inclusion of the EPISODE INTERmission DLC featuring Yuffie Kisaragi makes this the definitive portable package. Controlling Yuffie feels distinct and frantic compared to Cloud's heavy strikes. Her shuriken throwing mechanics and ninjutsu abilities benefit greatly from the Joy-Con 2's refined haptic feedback, which provides subtle vibrations when catching her returning weapon.

Verdict

It isn't just a port; it's a statement. The Switch 2 has arrived as a serious contender for third-party AAA experiences. If you haven't played Intergrade yet, or want to experience it on the go without compromising visual fidelity, this is a must-buy.

The Ubisoft Restructure: A Somber Note

While we celebrate technical achievements, we must address the elephant in the room. As reported by IGN today, Ubisoft has announced a sweeping restructuring plan. The headline is the official cancellation of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, a project that has been in development hell for years.

Alongside this, five other unannounced projects have been scrapped, and two support studios are closing their doors. This news serves as a stark reminder of the volatility in AAA development. For fans of the Sands of Time, this is a heartbreaking conclusion to years of anticipation. It raises questions about the publisher's strategy moving forward, focusing heavily on their established open-world live-service juggernauts rather than diverse, smaller experiences.

Xbox Game Pass Wave 2: Death Stranding Director's Cut

(Image sourced from The Outerhaven coverage)

Microsoft continues to bolster its subscription service aggressively in 2026. Following the announcement from The Outerhaven and XboxEra, the second wave of January games has dropped, headlined by Hideo Kojima's genre-defying Death Stranding Director's Cut.

Review Impressions

Playing Death Stranding in 2026, the game feels more relevant than ever. The themes of isolation and reconnection resonate deeply. On the Series X, the Director's Cut features verified 4K/60fps performance. The "Director's Cut" additions—new delivery support items, the firing range, and the race track—flesh out the gameplay loop, making the early hours significantly more approachable for newcomers.

It is a rare game that manages to be both meditative and stressful. If you have hesitated to try it because of the "walking simulator" pejorative, downloading it via Game Pass is the perfect low-risk opportunity to experience one of the decade's most unique titles.

Also Added Today:

• Midnight Suns (Cloud/Console)
• Grid Legends 2 (PC/Console)

Indie Corner: The Hidden Gems of Jan 21

The AAA space isn't the only place seeing action. We've been testing several smaller titles that released today or recently.

Once Upon a Katamari

Once Upon a Katamari takes the classic rolling formula and injects a storybook aesthetic. The gameplay remains king: roll up small items to get big enough to roll up massive items. This iteration introduces "Fable Objects"—mythical creatures and legendary artifacts that require specific puzzle-solving elements to capture. While the camera can still be finicky in tight corners, the charm is undeniable. It’s a vibrant, chaotic joyride that doesn't overstay its welcome.

Rage Swarm

A top-down twin-stick shooter with a twist, Rage Swarm puts you in control of a hive mind. Instead of a single ship, you control a flock of nanobots. As you take damage, your swarm diminishes; as you collect resources, it grows. The visual feedback is spectacular, with thousands of particles on screen. However, the difficulty spike around the third boss feels unfair, requiring near-perfect reflexes that might alienate casual players.

The Bee Hive

Strangely, we have two swarm-based games this week. The Bee Hive is a strategy simulation game focused on colony management. Unlike Rage Swarm, this is a chill, educational experience. You manage resources, defend against wasps, and optimize pollination routes. The UI is clean, and the "waggle dance" mechanic for directing troops is a stroke of genius. It's the perfect cozy game for a rainy Wednesday.

Hytale (Early Access Impressions)

We also dipped our toes into the long-awaited Hytale beta. While the visual depth and modding potential are immediately apparent, we have to agree with some of the community sentiment emerging on Reddit and early forums: the core survival loop currently lacks depth. The procedural generation is impressive, creating stunning vistas, but the "dungeon delving" aspect feels repetitive after the fifth hour. It shows immense promise, but it clearly needs more time in the oven before it can truly challenge the Minecraft throne.

2026: The Year Ahead

With January almost behind us, the conversation inevitably turns to Game of the Year predictions. It might seem premature, but with the Switch 2 lineup revealed and big hitters like GTA VI (hopefully) on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be legendary.

We recommend checking out IGN's latest analysis on the topic, which aligns with our internal thoughts:

Predicting The 2026 Game of the Year

Furthermore, for those wondering what else is worth your time this month, SpawnPoiint has an excellent breakdown of the January releases we might have missed:

10 NEW Games Actually Worth Playing in January 2026

Summary Verdicts

To wrap up our January 21 coverage, here is our scoring breakdown for today's reviewed titles. Note that Hytale is unscored due to its Early Access nature.

Final Thoughts

As we close out today's news desk, the juxtaposition of Ubisoft's downsizing against the creative explosion of the Switch 2 launch and the indie scene highlights the duality of the modern games industry. It is a business of high risks, but when it pays off—like it has for Square Enix's portable port or Kojima's auteur projects—the wins are monumental for players.

Stay tuned to ModVC for more updates, and don't forget to check your Wordle today (spoiler: check the NYT hints if you're stuck!). Happy gaming.

Sources:

• RPGFan - FF7 Review
• IGN - Ubisoft Restructure
• XboxEra - Game Pass Update