Gearbox has delayed the Nintendo Switch 2 model of Borderlands 4 indefinitely and cancelled all digital pre-orders simply over a week from its launch date.
The looter shooter had been due out on Nintendo’s new console on October 3. Gearbox did not share an up to date launch date in its announcement. This is Gearbox chief Randy Pitchford’s Borderlands 4 Nintendo Switch 2 launch date announcement video, launched in July.
An essential message concerning the Nintendo Switch 2 model of Borderlands 4: pic.twitter.com/Wc5MwAU2bm
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) July 22, 2025
The delay determination comes at a time when Gearbox is already working to repair efficiency points with Borderlands 4 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Sequence X and S. For instance, final week the tech specialists at Digital Foundry confirmed a gradual worsening of framerate with steady playtime, even on the extra highly effective PlayStation 5 Professional and Xbox Sequence X. As revealed in a video published to YouTube, Digital Foundry discovered efficiency begins dipping after round half-hour to an hour, which it known as “too intrusive on the general expertise, too common an interruption.” Even after a utterly recent boot, the sport continues to be susceptible to framerate drops.
In the meantime, Borderlands 4 continues to be on a combined Steam evaluation score, with many of the damaging feedback revolving round PC efficiency. Digital Foundry has stated its initial analysis of Borderlands 4 on PC exhibits important stutter issues, and have suggested in opposition to working the sport on its ‘Badass’ graphics setting, which suggests there are certainly issues with the Unreal Engine 5 title.
With this in thoughts, it’s exhausting to think about Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 working easily.
“Greetings, Vault Hunters,” Gearbox’s assertion started. “We have to share that the discharge of Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 is being delayed. We don’t take this determination calmly, however are dedicated to making sure we ship the very best expertise to our followers, and the sport wants extra improvement and polish time to try this. Our hope is to additionally higher align this launch with the addition of cross saves, which we’re working on and acknowledge is essential. We are going to replace you all on the brand new launch timing as soon as we’ve absolutely adjusted our plans.”
The studio stated that “in accordance with Nintendo’s coverage,” all digital pre-orders up to now can be cancelled. “We tremendously respect the suggestions, assist and persistence of our followers and neighborhood. It’s really what retains us going.”
There was a distinct lack of shock on the announcement from followers. “The sport has hassle on my 4080 tremendous, I can’t think about how the Switch model would fare,” said redditor Bitemarkz. “I dont anticipate the Switch 2 model to ever run properly, however I do respect the choice to delay it to keep away from a full catastrophe of a launch,” (*2*). “BL4 brings high of the road desktop PCs to their knees, there isn’t any method in hell no matter taste of NVidia Tegra is contained in the change 2 may even launch the sport,” added HoboG0blin.
It was a related response over on social media. “Given the way it performs now it could run at both 5 fps on the Switch 2 or flip into a Torgue machine that explodes when making an attempt to run the sport,” stated @Raumentonus. “Assumed as a lot, why did we push up the discharge date basically?” wondered @atomick.
Greetings, Vault Hunters – We have to share that the discharge of Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 is being delayed. We don’t take this determination calmly, however are dedicated to making sure we ship the very best expertise to our followers, and the sport wants extra improvement…
— Borderlands (@Borderlands) September 23, 2025
Pitchford had set his sights on profitable offended Borderlands 4 gamers over on social media. Since Borderlands 4’s enormous Steam launch final week, Pitchford has issued complicated feedback on why the console model of Borderlands 4 lacks a subject of view (FOV) slider, promised that it could have been unattainable to interrupt the Borderlands 4 servers by means of sheer weight of participant numbers alone, informed individuals to “code your individual engine and present us the way it’s achieved, please,” and declared Borderlands 4 “a premium sport made for premium players.” He even began telling Borderlands 4 gamers to refund the sport on Steam in the event that they have been that upset.
Nevertheless, it appears Pitchford has been comparatively quiet on social media in latest days, and has but to challenge any remark concerning the delayed Switch 2 model.
If you’re delving into Borderlands 4, do not go with out an up to date hourly SHiFT codes checklist. We have additionally received a enormous interactive map able to go and a badass Borderlands 4 planner tool courtesy of our buds at Maxroll. Plus take a look at our skilled gamers’ selections for which character to decide on (nobody agreed).
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.