This is the seventh Creator’s Voice feature following interviews with FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki on The Duskbloods, Supergiant Games on Hades II, Hazelight Studios on Split Fiction, Avalanche Software on Hogwarts Legacy, CD Projekt RED on Cyberpunk 2077 and Square Enix on Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. Each week, the series highlights how studios are using Nintendo Switch 2’s capabilities to evolve their games. This includes upgraded visuals, motion controls, and tools like GameChat and VRR.
Borderlands 4 isn’t a port—it’s being developed specifically for Nintendo Switch 2 from the ground up. Pitchford and Varnell call the experience exciting and empowering, noting the system’s compact design and power made a difference. They explain how co-op gameplay and social connectivity feel right at home on this platform.
Varnell talks about how a childhood love of gaming, sparked by family moments with the NES, led to a career in design. That passion comes through in how he describes Borderlands 4—not just as a sequel, but as an ambitious step forward in both scale and freedom.
Bigger, Weirder, and More Open Than Ever
Borderlands 4 marks a shift for the series with a massive, seamless world that you can explore without load screens. According to Randy Pitchford, if you see something in the distance, you can go there. This new sense of scale gives the game a more open feel than previous entries.
Movement is also getting an upgrade. Pitchford describes new options like double jumps, air dashes, and grappling hooks. These changes aim to make traversal feel more fun and flexible. It’s still Borderlands, but with more room to get creative in how you move through the world.
Varnell says these features were made possible in part by how long the team has been working on the game. Development on Borderlands 4 started right after Borderlands 3 shipped in 2019. That extra time gave the team room to create new enemies, fine-tune the humour and story, and experiment with even stranger weapon ideas.
A Perfect Match for Co-op Mayhem
Pitchford describes Borderlands 4 as a game built for adventure with friends. He sees the Nintendo Switch 2 as an ideal match for this style of gameplay. The system’s focus on social connectivity lines up with Gearbox’s goal of making shared experiences accessible.
He notes how easy it is to connect with friends and share the game, no matter where they are. That ease of connection makes the Nintendo Switch 2 feel like a natural home for Borderlands 4’s co-op focus.
Pitchford also praises the hardware itself, calling the Nintendo Switch 2 a powerful machine in a compact form. He says it doesn’t get in the way of development—instead, it enables the team to deliver their best work. The goal, he adds, is to create the strongest version of Borderlands 4 possible on every platform, including the Switch 2.
“The Nintendo Switch 2 has been a joy to work with. It’s very powerful. It’s an incredible machine in a very tight form factor, and we love being on the bleeding edge with our graphics and the experience that we’re creating. And the Nintendo Switch 2 makes all that possible.
We don’t feel like we are fighting the system. We feel like the system is enabling us an empowering us to make the best version of Borderlands 4 we can. As a game developer, it’s awesome.” — Randy Pitchford
Are you excited to play Borderlands 4 on Nintendo Switch 2? Let us know what feature you’re most curious about.
As always, remember to follow us on our social media (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube and Facebook) to keep up with the latest news.
