Rumor: Borderlands 3 Could Be Coming to the Nintendo Switch

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Borderlands 3 may finally be on its way to Nintendo Switch, rumors suggest. While this is likely exciting news for some gamers, this is not the first time people have suggested a Borderlands 3 port might materialize.

If Borderlands 3 does reach the Nintendo Switch, it would not be a first for the franchise. Mainline entries from the series landed in Nintendo waters previously, in the form of a slightly modified Borderlands Legendary Collection, which included Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Borderlands 2. Though available on cartridge, that bundle required a hefty download and install, as is typical for larger games ported to Switch by publishers wishing to avoid paying a premium for larger cartridges.

Renewed speculation comes courtesy of a rating from PEGI (the board responsible for releases across Europe), previously known for leaking the Blizzard Arcade Collection. Today, the organization briefly referenced a Nintendo Switch version on listings pertaining to the Director's Cut and Designer's Cut versions of Borderlands 3, along with individual DLC: Borderlands: Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck, Borderlands 3: Bounty of Blood, Borderlands 3: Guns, Love, and Tentacles, and Borderlands 3: Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot.

Borderlands 3 previously appeared to be destined for release on Nintendo Switch, with an earlier PEGI rating notation making the rounds in April 2021. April's listing was posted in error and eventually disappeared from PEGI's site. A representative from 2K Games said at the time that the game was not bound for the platform. Today's references to a Nintendo Switch version with a December 1, 2022 release date have since vanished.

It is currently unclear whether a release for Borderlands 3 would be available physically and as a download, or if it would instead arrive as a Cloud-only version to take advantage of more powerful hardware, like Hitman 3 and the Kingdom Hearts games before it. Cloud versions have been a popular option in Japan, where reliable internet access is more common. Poor infrastructure throughout much of North America sometimes leads to lackluster performance, as 2K Games discovered with its disappointing Borderlands 3 release on Stadia, but that hasn't stopped publishers from occasionally making the attempt. Capcom also plans to bring Resident Evil Village and other titles from that franchise to Switch in a streaming format.

Borderlands 3 benefits from robust hardware and online play, which are not among the Switch's core strengths, but it would be nice to see another installment in a beloved franchise reach Nintendo's platform and enable affordable online play for those who might not have room in their budget for hardware with more horsepower. Rumors of Borderlands 3 coming to Switch may date back years, but it's never too late to see them become reality. More options are better for everyone.

Borderlands 3 is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. A Switch release has not yet been confirmed.