Gearbox has announced that Borderlands 4 has been delayed for Nintendo Switch 2. Borderlands 4 was originally set to launch for Nintendo Switch 2 on October 3, a few weeks after its launch on PC, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5, but it now does not have a new release date.
The game’s technical struggles, even on high-end PCs, meant that all eyes were on Borderlands 4‘s Switch 2 version in the coming weeks. Its performance on other platforms has been a hot topic for debate ever since its September 12 launch, so many were naturally curious about how the game would fare on the Nintendo Switch 2. Whatever Gearbox originally planned to launch on October 3, it is evident now that the studio wasn’t happy with it.
Borderlands 4 Won't Be Arriving on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 3
Gearbox confirmed the delay of Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 in a post on X, claiming, “We do not take this decision lightly, but are committed to ensuring we deliver the best possible experience to our fans, and the game needs additional development and polish time to do that.” The developer has clarified that, in accordance with Nintendo’s policy, all digital pre-orders of the game will be canceled. If not done manually by fans, this will happen automatically from September 26, with Gearbox advising those who preordered the physical edition to “reach out to the corresponding retailer.”
The post also confirmed that the aim is to “better align this release with the addition of cross saves,” a feature that was missing from Borderlands 4‘s launch on other platforms. While this won’t help those who eventually complete their first playthrough on the Nintendo Switch 2 version, it will be useful for players who start the game on other platforms first. Despite having this goal in mind, Gearbox has not provided a new release date for Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 as of yet, claiming it “will update you all on the new release timing once we’ve fully adjusted our plans.”
This latest development is another frustrating hitch in Borderlands 4‘s post-launch plans. In a perfect world, the game’s performance is largely excellent, with the Nintendo Switch 2 launch going without issue, allowing Gearbox to focus on all brand-new content to come. However, some resources must now be dedicated to improving the game’s performance and getting it released in a good state on the Switch 2. Whether this actually affects the timeline of its post-launch roadmap remains to be seen.