Borderlands 4 on Switch 2: Is it a 'Perfect Machine' or a Case of Magical Mishap?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
The Nintendo Switch 2 port of Borderlands 4 is facing some serious caveats, losing beloved split-screen co-op, running at 30 FPS, and launching later than other platforms, raising questions about Gearbox's earlier 'perfect machine' claims.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're excitedly cooking up a potent spell, thinking you're about to conjure something truly epic, and it ends up… well, a bit lopsided? Maybe it works, but the colours are off, and it smells faintly of burnt toast? Yeah, that’s kinda what’s brewing with *Borderlands 4* on the Nintendo Switch 2, if the latest whispers and official FAQs are anything to go by.
I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, flipping through the digital tea leaves, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. Gearbox Software, bless 'em, dropped the bomb that *Borderlands 4* is indeed coming to Nintendo's shiny new console, alongside the usual suspects: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. That's grand, isn't it? More *Borderlands* for more folks. You'd think that's a win, a proper celebration, right?
But here’s the rub, mate. The big catch, the 'oops-a-daisy' in this otherwise delightful potion, is a little thing called split-screen co-op. Or rather, the distinct *lack* of it on the Switch 2. Now, if you've ever fired up a *Borderlands* game, you'll know that couch co-op, squishing onto the sofa with a mate, yelling about loot and arguing over who gets the legendary drop, is practically part of the franchise's DNA. It's like trying to make a proper cuppa without the tea leaves. It just ain't right.
This isn't just a minor omission; it’s a foundational piece of the *Borderlands* experience for many. While full crossplay with all platforms will be available at launch – and honestly, that’s a decent silver lining, a little bit of unexpected magic that works as intended – it doesn’t quite fill the void of having a buddy right there next to you, controllers in hand. I mean, think about it: how many epic gaming sessions started with that classic split-screen setup? It's a shared adventure, less about perfect framerates and more about perfect banter. Losing that on a console like the Switch, which is literally designed for portable, social play, feels like a missed opportunity of galactic proportions.
And sadly, the split-screen news isn't the only wrinkle in this otherwise promising scroll. We also got wind last month that *Borderlands 4* will be running at a rather sedate 30 FPS on the Switch 2. Now, I get it, the Switch 2 likely isn't packing the raw horsepower of a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. It's a different beast, built for different battles. But 30 FPS for a fast-paced looter-shooter like *Borderlands*? Some gamers, myself included, might find that a bit… jarring. It's like trying to cast a speed spell, but you're still moving at a leisurely stroll. Not exactly the 'zoom' you'd hope for.
To add insult to injury, or perhaps just to really test our patience, the Switch 2 version is set to drop on October 3rd, while PC and other consoles get their hands on it a fair bit earlier, on September 12th. So, you're looking at fewer features, potentially choppier performance, *and* a later release date. It's enough to make a digital wizard scratch their head and wonder if someone accidentally transposed a few crucial runes in the development circle.
Here’s where it gets truly interesting, and where my skeptical alarms start chirping louder than a flock of agitated Skags. Earlier this year, Gearbox Entertainment CEO Randy Pitchford was out there, spouting off about how the Switch 2 was “perfect” for *Borderlands 4*, calling it an “incredible machine” that could be used to “connect with friends.”
Perfect? Incredible machine? For connecting with friends? With no split-screen co-op, a lower framerate, and a delayed launch? Now, I’m all for optimism, mate, truly I am. But that sounds less like a carefully crafted incantation and more like someone confidently describing a fully functional teleportation spell, only for it to deposit you three blocks away, upside down, and missing one shoe. It just doesn't quite add up. Are these the 'connections with friends' he was talking about – the crossplay connections? Because the 'perfect' part feels a bit… aspirational, given the compromises.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Is the Switch 2 truly that limited, or are these development decisions driven by something else? Time and resources, perhaps? Or a strategic choice to focus the prime experience elsewhere? It's the kind of complex, multi-layered enigma that gets a curious chap like me digging. Are they trying to optimize so heavily that something had to give? Or is this just the inherent challenge of porting a large, open-world UE5 game to different hardware architectures, especially when one of them is aimed at a different kind of player experience?
Pre-orders are already live for the Switch 2 version, complete with a few bonus skins, which is a nice touch, I suppose, if you’re already locked in. But for many, especially those who cherish that specific *Borderlands* brand of chaotic couch carnage, these limitations might just be enough to make them reconsider which platform they'll be vault hunting on.
Ultimately, the proof of the potion will be in the tasting. Will *Borderlands 4* still be a hit on the Switch 2 despite these setbacks? Will its overall performance somehow surprise us? Only time will tell if Gearbox’s magic holds up, or if this port ends up being a charming but slightly wobbly apparition. For now, my wand is raised, but my eyebrow is definitely too.
*This article was repurposed from original reporting by Gabriel Machado Pureza on Game Rant. You can find the original story here
Tags: Borderlands 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Game Ports, Co-op Gaming, Gaming Industry
Original article: Game Rant