Why a Baldur's Gate 3 Switch 2 Port Would Be the Perfect Finale

Baldur's Gate 3 has solidified its legacy as one of the most content-rich and polished RPGs ever made. With Larian Studios moving on, the game is essentially complete, leaving fans to ponder one final frontier: could it ever come to the Nintendo Switch 2? While not guaranteed, a Switch 2 port would represent the ideal culmination of BG3's monumental journey, offering unparalleled benefits and addressing unique challenges.

In almost every regard, Baldur's Gate 3 is as complete as it's ever going to get. The massive narrative features plenty of unresolved elements and dangling plot threads, but it remains incredibly dense with content and far more refined than it was at launch. With Larian Studios pivoting to new projects, expecting significant new content for Baldur's Gate 3 beyond minor hotfixes, if even necessary, is unrealistic, and that's more than acceptable at this stage.

That being said, there's still one major frontier where Baldur's Gate 3 could expand its reach, and it's not about adding new in-game areas like the Upper City. The ultimate destination isn't within the game itself, but rather on a new hardware platform: the Nintendo Switch 2. If there's any feasible way for Larian to bring the game to the Switch 2 without investing a disproportionate amount of time and resources, such a port would serve as the perfect concluding chapter to Baldur's Gate 3's development saga.

A Portable Destination for an Expansive RPG

In many ways, the fact that Baldur's Gate 3 is even available on consoles at all feels like a minor miracle. Just a few decades ago, the idea of complex computer RPGs appearing on consoles was practically unheard of, and the series' first foray beyond PCs with Dark Alliance heavily streamlined the core RPG formula to focus on action-packed gameplay. However, modern games like Larian's own Divinity: Original Sin have fundamentally shifted this paradigm, making each new platform port a pleasant surprise rather than a foregone conclusion.

Attempting to run Baldur's Gate 3 on the original Nintendo Switch would have likely been a technical nightmare, but the advent of the Switch 2 opens up a completely new avenue of possibility. Although the Switch 2 still won't match the raw graphical horsepower of the Xbox Series S—currently the weakest hardware baseline that Baldur's Gate 3 has been optimized for—it brings the game within a much more reasonable performance threshold. With some strategic visual compromises and graphical adjustments, it's entirely plausible to expect a Switch 2 port to run adequately, offering a compelling trade-off that comes with enormous inherent advantages.

Transformative Portability for Epic Adventures

The most immediately apparent benefit of playing Baldur's Gate 3 on the Switch 2 is the sheer portability factor, which could dramatically transform the overall player experience. As a game where a single, thorough playthrough can easily demand upwards of 100 hours, one of Baldur's Gate 3's most significant hurdles for many players is simply allocating enough dedicated time to complete it. Being able to take the entire adventure on the go would make this monumental time commitment far more achievable and convenient for a broader audience.

While players might still prefer to experience the most emotionally resonant and intense cinematic sequences on a proper home theater setup, activities like exploring claustrophobic basements, battling hordes of kobolds, or managing intricate inventory systems could become perfectly suited for shorter gaming sessions during long commutes, waiting in queues, or even just relaxing on a bus ride.

Joy-Con Mouse Controls: Alleviating a BG3 UI Headache

Portability isn't the only major advantage, however. One of the most persistent frustrations for console players of Baldur's Gate 3 is the underlying sense that the game was so clearly and fundamentally designed to be played with a mouse and keyboard setup. While the radial UI elements and interface on consoles are undeniably well-thought-out and intuitive, they still present a significant hassle and learning curve compared to the fluidity and precision of direct mouse input.

The Switch 2's next-generation Joy-Con 2 controllers completely change this dynamic by actually being capable of functioning as mice, fundamentally altering the comfort and convenience of home console play. Although this innovative feature hasn't seen widespread adoption yet, it represents a monumental leap forward for titles that are traditionally PC-focused, such as Sid Meier's Civilization 7.

While it remains technically possible to connect a standard mouse and keyboard to other modern consoles, this functionality is often too niche and poorly supported by many major games, including Baldur's Gate 3. In contrast, the Joy-Con 2's mouse compatibility is far more user-friendly, seamlessly integrated, and prominently advertised, significantly increasing the likelihood that developers will actually implement and utilize it.

A Switch 2 Port Presents Unique Development Challenges

Realistically, it's difficult to accurately gauge the probability of a Switch 2 port for Baldur's Gate 3 materializing. The most likely scenario is that Larian Studios could opt to outsource the entire porting process to a specialized external studio. Some of the most successful and well-received ports for the original Nintendo Switch were handled through outsourcing, with games like Doom Eternal famously receiving remarkable and technically impressive ports from developer Panic Button.

Panic Button is already actively engaged in developing the Switch 2 port for Borderlands 4, and the studio could potentially be an excellent fit for tackling the immense technical challenges of Baldur's Gate 3 next. However, a Switch 2 port would inevitably introduce a host of additional development hurdles and troubleshooting complexities, which might make Larian Studios uncomfortable with the entire undertaking.

Handling even more bug fixes and technical optimizations internally could risk stalling progress on their future projects, but outsourcing the work could potentially result in a version of the game that fails to meet the same exceptionally high standards of quality and polish. Despite these potential obstacles, a Switch 2 port of Baldur's Gate 3 still appears to be generally viable and technically feasible.

The Potential Rewards Are Immense

Moreover, a Switch 2 port seems like an almost guaranteed commercial success, inviting a completely new audience to experience the game and likely enticing a significant portion of existing dedicated fans to double-dip and purchase the game again for the sheer convenience and portability factor. The current best alternative for portable play is the Steam Deck, a more niche and specialized product, and getting Baldur's Gate 3 to run smoothly on that handheld still requires some technical tweaking and optimization.

Ultimately, while no one can complain if Baldur's Gate 3 never makes its way to the Switch 2, as Larian Studios has already poured an immense amount of passion and resources into the game and its community, it would undeniably serve as the perfect final flourish and cherry on top of Baldur's Gate 3's incredible, industry-defining success story so far.