Can you call this a rumor?
Look, the prospect of playing Diablo 4 on the Nintendo Switch is intriguing. The compelling hack-and-slash formula fits handheld devices like a glove, especially if you like playing with friends. Videos have made the rounds on the internet of Diablo 4 seemingly running on the system, which has made some curious. Could Diablo 4 actually come to Nintendo Switch?
The answer: Diablo 4 is not coming to Nintendo Switch. Blizzard has not announced any plans to bring their latest ARPG to the handheld hybrid console. Footage of Diablo 4 running on the Switch involves streaming the game from a PC, like how Steam Link works. Making this work involves modifying the Switch and using third party tools, neither of which is supported by Nintendo.
Furthermore, the chance of Diablo 4 ever coming to the Nintendo Switch is slim at best. Let’s go over the reasons why.
Why Diablo 4 likely won’t come to the Nintendo Switch
The biggest hurdle facing Diablo 4 on the Switch is the hardware itself. Though Diablo 4 runs quite well, the aging hardware of the Switch probably can’t handle the game. Even a Steam Deck, which boasts significantly greater power than the Switch, has to run the game at nearly the lowest settings. As things stand, Diablo 4 would have to face serious overhauls to work on the system.
However, one of Diablo 4’s greatest selling points is its cross-platform multiplayer. PC and console players can freely play the game together, regardless of platform. A compromised version of Diablo 4 would mean this system parity would likely be off the table, meaning the game wouldn’t even be Diablo 4 at that point.
Really, the biggest argument against Diablo 4 ever coming to the Switch simply is that it hasn’t happened yet. Blizzard has been happy to support the system, as they’ve made a Switch version of Diablo 3 and released Diablo 2: Resurrected on it at launch. If Diablo 4 could run on the system, they almost certainly would have released it alongside the other console versions of the game. And obviously, that didn’t happen.
This isn’t to say that Diablo 4 will never come out on the Switch. But at this point, I’d say it’s more likely for Diablo 4 to appear on Nintendo’s next system, which hasn’t even been announced. In other words, don’t hold your breath.
