Gearbox has postponed the Nintendo Switch 2 release of Borderlands 4 indefinitely, canceling all digital pre-orders just over a week before its scheduled launch.
The looter shooter was originally set to launch on Nintendo's new console on October 3rd. Gearbox did not provide a revised release date in its announcement. Below is a video message from Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford regarding the Borderlands 4 Switch 2 release date, released in July.
An important message regarding the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Borderlands 4: pic.twitter.com/Wc5MwAU2bm
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) July 22, 2025
This delay comes as Gearbox is already addressing performance issues with Borderlands 4 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. For instance, technical analysis from Digital Foundry last week confirmed a gradual framerate decline during extended play sessions, even on the more powerful PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X. As detailed in a YouTube video, performance begins to degrade after roughly 30 minutes to an hour, a pattern described as "too intrusive on the overall experience, too regular an interruption." The issue can persist even after a fresh restart of the game.
Currently, Borderlands 4 maintains a 'Mixed' rating on Steam, with most negative reviews citing poor PC performance. Digital Foundry's initial PC analysis points to significant stuttering issues and advises against using the 'Badass' graphics preset, indicating deeper problems with this Unreal Engine 5 title.
Considering these ongoing challenges, it is difficult to envision a smooth performance for Borderlands 4 on the Nintendo Switch 2.
The official statement from Gearbox began, "Greetings, Vault Hunters. We must inform you that the release of Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 is being delayed. This was not an easy decision, but we are committed to delivering the best possible experience to our fans, and the game requires additional development and polish to meet that standard. We also aim to better align this release with the implementation of cross-save functionality, a feature we are actively developing and recognize as highly important. We will provide an update on the new release timing once our plans are finalized."
The studio confirmed that, "in accordance with Nintendo's policy," all digital pre-orders to date have been canceled. "We sincerely appreciate the feedback, support, and patience from our fans and community. It truly motivates us to keep going."
The announcement was met with little surprise from the player base. One Reddit user, Bitemarkz, noted, "The game struggles on my RTX 4080 Super; I can't imagine how the Switch version would handle it." User jwhudexnls commented, "I don't expect the Switch 2 version to ever run well, but I respect the decision to delay and avoid a disastrous launch." HoboG0blin added, "BL4 brings high-end gaming PCs to their knees; there's no way whatever Nvidia Tegra chip is in the Switch 2 could even launch the game."
Reactions on social media echoed this sentiment. User @Raumentonus stated, "Given its current performance, it would either run at 5 fps on the Switch 2 or turn the console into a Torgue explosive device." @atomick wondered, "I assumed as much; why was the release date pushed forward in the first place?"
Greetings, Vault Hunters - We need to share that the release of Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 is being delayed. 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…
— Borderlands (@Borderlands) September 23, 2025
CEO Randy Pitchford had previously attempted to engage with frustrated players online. Since the game's massive Steam launch last week, he has made confusing statements regarding the console version's lack of an FOV slider, insisted it was impossible to overwhelm the servers solely through player count, told critics to "code your own engine and show us how it’s done, please," and labeled Borderlands 4 "a premium game made for premium gamers." He even began advising upset players to request a Steam refund.
Recently, however, Pitchford has been relatively quiet on social media and has not commented publicly on the Switch 2 version's delay.
For those diving into Borderlands 4, be sure to check our updated hourly SHiFT codes list. We also offer a comprehensive interactive map and a powerful Borderlands 4 build planner tool, courtesy of our partners at Maxroll. Additionally, see our experts' recommendations for which character to choose first (though there was no consensus).
