Borderlands 4 development for Nintendo Switch 2 was placed on hold several months ago due to technical difficulties and Unreal Engine 5 optimization challenges, according to insider NateTheHate2. The clarification follows online speculation suggesting that Take-Two Interactive shifted resources away from Borderlands 4 in order to prioritize Grand Theft Auto VI on Nintendo’s new console.
The discussion began when content creator Reece “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly shared a claim attributed to Nash Weedle, stating, “Nash Weedle thinks resources for Borderlands 4 on Switch 2 were reallocated to GTA VI for Switch 2 to have it launch close to PS5/Xbox.” Reilly added that he had contacted sources for clarification and wrote, “I’ve reached out to a few sources to see if I can get clarification. Watch this space.”
Nash Weedle’s original post suggested that Take-Two wanted to prioritize Grand Theft Auto VI development on Switch 2 in order to shorten the gap between its Nintendo release and the PlayStation 5 and Xbox versions. However, NateTheHate2 publicly disputed this explanation, responding, “Doesn’t match what I’ve been told. I have doubts in the claim made.”
When asked to elaborate, NateTheHate2 pointed to previous forum posts and provided a more detailed explanation. “Borderlands 4 for Switch 2 was put on pause a few months ago. It’s been a challenging game to port to the hardware & UE5 needs further optimization. Better to pause and hope UE5 is refined further than to waste time & resources,” he stated.
Borderlands 4 officially launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on September 12, 2025. The game transports players to a new planet called Kairos, where they face a cybernetically obsessed tyrant known as the Timekeeper. The release maintains the franchise’s core looter-shooter structure, including billions of procedurally generated weapons and four new Vault Hunters, while introducing seamless open-world exploration and updated traversal mechanics such as grappling and gliding.
Despite generally positive reception for its gameplay changes, the launch experienced some performance issues on consoles. For Nintendo players, the outlook is less certain. Although Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford previously described the Switch 2 as a “perfect fit” for the game, Take-Two Interactive officially paused development of the Switch 2 version in February 2026. The port, originally delayed from an October 2025 window, has since been removed from financial release schedules.
As of now, no revised timeline or confirmation of cancellation has been provided. The pause appears tied to technical feasibility rather than strategic reprioritization toward other titles, at least based on the information shared by NateTheHate2.
