Borderlands 4 Struggles on Nintendo Switch 2 at Gamescom 2025: Performance Issues Highlight Early Challenges

Borderlands 4, the latest installment in Gearbox Software’s acclaimed looter shooter series, was a major attraction at Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany.

As fans continue to anticipate the next chapter in the Borderlands saga, excitement was especially high to see the game running on cutting-edge hardware, including the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.

However, early impressions from on-site gameplay suggest the transition to Nintendo’s upcoming console may be facing technical headwinds. First announced during a Nintendo Direct earlier this year, Borderlands 4 builds on the franchise's signature blend of action-packed gunplay, wild humor, and cooperative gameplay.

The demo featured at Gamescom 2025 marked one of the first public hands-on opportunities for fans to experience the game’s next-generation features alongside returning classics.

Yet, according to content creator EpicNNG, who shared his first-hand experiences on social media, the Switch 2 demo fell short of expectations in terms of performance. EpicNNG reported that Borderlands 4 "barely maintained a steady 30 frames per second" during docked mode, even when only a handful of enemies appeared on screen.

He described severe input lag and remarked that the game appeared to be running at a significantly reduced render resolution, further diminishing the visual fidelity.

"With just four enemies present, the game struggled to hold 30fps, and input delay was a serious concern.

It looked like the resolution had been turned all the way down just to keep things running," he explained to his followers after the gameplay session. These challenges highlight the technical hurdles developers like Gearbox Software face when optimizing visually demanding, multiplatform titles for new hardware such as the Nintendo Switch 2.

While the original Borderlands series has sold millions of copies and found success on a range of platforms—including the current Nintendo Switch via the Borderlands Legendary Collection—translating the next-generation experience appears to require additional fine-tuning for Nintendo’s forthcoming console. Nintendo has not released formal specifications or a launch date for the Switch 2 as of this writing, but reports from Gamescom 2025 mark the hardware’s increasing presence in hands-on demonstrations and developer showcases.

With Borderlands 4 expected to be a key multiplatform release, its performance on Nintendo’s new hardware will be under close scrutiny from both fans and industry analysts. Gearbox Software has not publicly commented on the reported framerate or input delay issues.

As the Switch 2 approaches its release window, further updates and optimizations are anticipated to ensure a smoother experience for players looking forward to Borderlands 4 and other AAA titles. For now, Gamescom 2025 serves as a valuable preview of both Nintendo Switch 2’s capabilities and the challenges ahead for studios aiming to bring their ambitious projects to the platform.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Borderlands 4 Switch 2 Switch Borderlands Gamescom Gamescom 2025 Gearbox Software EpicNNG