Borderlands 4 has officially been granted Steam Deck Verified status, confirming Valve’s handheld compatibility for Gearbox’s latest entry in the long-running looter shooter franchise.
The certification arrives shortly after reports that development of the Nintendo Switch 2 version has been paused indefinitely. The delay is tied to technical challenges related to Unreal Engine 5, with the possibility that the Switch 2 version could see a late release if those issues are resolved. At present, however, the port remains without a confirmed timeline.
Borderlands 4 originally launched in September 2025, introducing players to the ancient planet of Kairos. Set six years after the events of the previous installment, the game follows four new Vault Hunters named Vex, Rafa, Harlowe, and Amon. Their mission centers on confronting an organization known as the Order, led by a dictator called the Timekeeper. The title preserves the franchise’s signature focus on chaotic combat and massive weapon variety while shifting toward a more seamless open-world structure. New traversal mechanics such as grappling hooks and gliding expand exploration and movement across Kairos.
For handheld players, the current situation presents two very different outcomes. On Steam Deck, Verified status indicates that the game meets Valve’s standards for performance, controls, and display compatibility. This suggests a smoother experience than earlier impressions, which described the game as demanding and requiring extensive tweaking on portable hardware.
In contrast, the Switch 2 version faces significant uncertainty. Take-Two Interactive has confirmed that development on the port was paused as of February 2026. The version was previously expected to launch in October 2025, but has since been removed from financial release schedules. While the publisher has indicated that resources are being directed toward post-launch optimizations on existing platforms, the absence of a new target window has left the Switch 2 release in limbo.
