Starfield could join Borderlands 4 as next rumored Switch 2 game cancelled over performance concerns

Bethesda announced ports including Fallout 4 and Oblivion Remastered at the latest Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. However, one rumored Switch 2 game that has yet to appear is the space epic Starfield. According to insider Shinobi602, it may never come to the handheld.

Why a Starfield Switch 2 port may be on ice

Shinobi602 has a solid track record for predictions, even if most were PlayStation-related. On the ResetEra forums, he responded to a report that a Starfield PS5 version will surface in April 2026. While more gamers could soon have access to the title, Nintendo fans may not be among them. The leaker said a Switch 2 port has been “pushed out” and is at risk of cancellation.

Recently, Take-Two Interactive revealed that Borderlands 4 for the Nintendo console was indefinitely delayed. With developers struggling to optimize the game, the Bethesda project could be facing similar issues. Rather than blaming a lack of dev kits or a strategic decision, Shinobi602 clarified, “They're having problems with it, nothing to do with holidays or anything.”

Unlike Borderlands 4, a Starfield Switch 2 release has not been officially confirmed. Still, reliable leakers like NateTheHate2 anticipated a port arriving in 2026. When considering performance challenges, there is one key difference with Gearbox's looter shooter.

Starfield is in a better state than Borderlands 4

Bethesda’s galactic RPG launched on PC and Xbox consoles in 2023. While still demanding, the studio has had several years to improve frame rates. Nevertheless, Switch 2 specs may not be sufficient to render the open-world galaxy smoothly.

Starfield is CPU-intensive, which can be an obstacle on the handheld. Its Nvidia Tegra T239 SoC is faster than the original Switch’s chip, but still forces compromises. Developers have often had to rely on DLSS upscaling to offer an acceptable experience. Frequent loading screens are also a concern, especially with slower cartridges lagging behind the speed of internal storage.

The recent Nintendo Direct featured an onslaught of third-party Switch 2 games. Many titles were previously available only on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Nevertheless, Bethesda may have decided that Starfield isn’t worth the time or resources.