'Borderlands 3' won't be released for the Nintendo Switch, says Gearbox CEO

By Brad Jones January 17, 2017

Nintendo Switch — Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Nintendo Switch, from the innovative way it blends the convenience of a portable system with the benefits of gaming on a big screen, to compelling software like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. However, as with any Nintendo console released in the last 20 years, third-party support is a concern.

Yesterday, we learned that a major third-party title expected to release in the next couple of years is not expected to hit the Switch. Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford delivered the news to a fan in response to a question about whether the long-awaited Borderlands 3 would be released for Nintendo’s upcoming piece of hardware.

Recommended Videos

“I do not see that as happening,” wrote Pitchford, according to a report from IGN. “We were talking to Nintendo, but that stopped for some reason. They have other priorities.”

Borderlands 3 is expected to be Gearbox Software’s next project, as Pitchford has previously stated that production would begin in earnest after the release of Battleborn, which launched last year. It’s reasonable to assume that it would be ready at some point in the next two or three years, at which point it’s likely to be available for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as the PC.

If the Switch can’t offer major third-party releases like Borderlands 3 alongside its direct console competition, it will be difficult for the system to cast off the dark shadow of the Wii U. That piece of hardware couldn’t muster up enough third-party support to flesh out its library, despite plenty of great games being released for the platform.

We’ve already been told that the Switch will be easy to develop games for. However, if third-party studios don’t see a reason to release their games for the system along with releases for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, Nintendo will face an uphill struggle as it attempts to appeal to mainstream audiences.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

Gaming

Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t on Nintendo Switch, but these 7 great CRPGs are

Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3.

Baldur's Gate 3 has taken the video game industry by storm over the last week, even though it's only available on PC. While it will launch for PlayStation 5 on September 6 and is likely to get an Xbox launch eventually, there's one platform that it doesn't look like Baldur's Gate 3 will come to: the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo's hybrid system is a great home to many more traditional RPGs, but even compared to Xbox, the choices for solid CRPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 are slim on Nintendo Switch.
Still, they aren't nonexistent, so if you don't own any other platform that will eventually be able to play Baldur's Gate 3, you do have some options. In particular, the following six games (and one that's coming out soon) are clearly inspired by tabletop and classic CRPGs, and players looking for a Nintendo Switch experience similar to Baldur's Gate 3 should them try out.
Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Editions

While Baldur's Gate 3 isn't on Nintendo Switch, its predecessors are. There are actually six remastered Dungeons & Dragons CRPGs on Switch, but I obviously had to shout out the original two Baldur's Gate games. These titles, which were originally developed by BioWare and remastered by Beamdog, set the standards that most Western-developed RPGs have followed in the decades since. The first Baldur's Gate proved that video games could have deeper stories with more complex characters than were typically seen and have gameplay that was more open-ended and reactive to players in its design.
Its sequel, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is considered to be even better by some as it builds upon the very solid foundation that its predecessor established. While somewhat dated compared to some slicker modern RPGs, both of these games still hold up and are worth playing if you want to see the birthplace of many foundational RPG ideas. Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Editions can be bought for $50 on Nintendo Switch, and it includes both game and all of their DLC (plus some new content), along with the visually improved remaster treatment you'd expect. Instead of playing Baldur's Gate 3, you can appreciate these classics on Nintendo Switch.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition

Gaming

The best RPGs for the Nintendo Switch

Marth glowing blue.

The Nintendo Switch is a smash-hit with a wide library of titles across all genres, so it should come as no surprise that it has amassed a wealth of great role-playing games. Many of them are ports of titles previously released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but others are exclusive to Nintendo's hybrid system -- such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Whether you're looking for a turn-based classic or something new with a massive open world, the portable console has it all. Here are the best role-playing games on Nintendo Switch.

Gaming

Don’t expect a Switch Pro or new Nintendo console within the next year

preorder legend of zelda tears the kingdom nintendo switch oled gameplay

If you were hoping that a new Nintendo console was right on the horizon after the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, think again. Nintendo has confirmed that it plans to release no new hardware over the next 12 months.

On May 9, Nintendo shared its financial results for the last fiscal year with investors. Console and software sales both lagged by a bit compared to the year before, with Nintendo crediting a semiconductor shortage and a weaker holiday season for that. Looking to the next year, the company hopes to sell 15 million new Nintendo Switch consoles on top of the 125.62 million that are already out there. Those forecasts are all based on existing hardware, according to a report by Bloomberg.