Borderlands 4 for Nintendo Switch 2 Canceled Despite Gearbox CEO’s Initial Optimism

Cancellation of Borderlands 4 for Nintendo Switch 2 Announced

The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 version of Borderlands 4 has officially been canceled. This announcement came to light yesterday when Take-Two Interactive removed the game from its revised list of upcoming releases in their latest quarterly report.

Statement from Take-Two Interactive

In a statement provided to Variety, spokesperson Alan Lewis indicated:

We made the difficult decision to pause development on that WeU. Our focus continues to be delivering quality post-launch content for players on the ongoing improvements to optimize the game. We’re continuing to collaborate closely with our friends at Nintendo. We have ‘PGA Tour 2K25′ and ‘WWE 2K26′ coming out for Nintendo Switch 2, and we’re incredibly excited about bringing more of our titles to that platform in the future.

Initial Expectations and Delays

Originally set to launch this October alongside PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X, the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 version was delayed in late September with no rescheduled launch date announced.

Support for the New Console

Back in May, Randy Pitchford, founder of Gearbox, expressed enthusiasm about developing for the Nintendo Switch 2, asserting that:

To have Nintendo Switch 2 in hand while we’re making Borderlands 4 for Nintendo Switch 2 is really exciting. Usually, we’ll have to port a game to a platform, but in this case, we’re making Borderlands 4 for the Nintendo Switch 2. And I think that when you play Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2, you’ll realize that with the cooperative experience and how we can use the Nintendo Switch 2 platform to connect with friends, share our game with friends, it’s pretty astonishing how perfect this platform is for Borderlands 4.

Development Challenges

He also highlighted the advantages of the new console, noting:

The Switch 2 has been a joy to work with. It’s very powerful. It’s an incredible machine in a very tight form factor, and we love being on the bleeding edge with our graphics and the experience that we’re creating. And the Nintendo Switch 2 makes all that possible. We don’t feel like we’re fighting the system. We feel like the system is enabling us and empowering us to make the best version of Borderlands 4 we can. As a game developer, it’s awesome.

Next Steps for Take-Two

Despite the optimistic outlook expressed earlier this year, it appears that significant obstacles have arisen between May and September, leading Take-Two to reconsider the viability of the port.

Additionally, during Take-Two’s recent financial call, the publisher shared plans to initiate a major marketing campaign for Grand Theft Auto VI, expected to launch this Summer.

For more details, you can refer to the original article here.