Doom Eternal Sets Switch Release Date at Long Last

Well, we already knew it was possible to put a BFG 9000 on the Switch, but it appears its bigger brother—as seen at a UAC base in Doom Eternal—is indeed coming to the tiny console as well. Yes, Doom Eternal finally has a release date for Nintendo Switch: on Dec. 8, the sequel can be yours in portable system form.

After Eternal's delay back in 2019, the Switch port from developers Panic Button was pushed back to a launch "a bit later" than the other console and PC versions. Going from March to December might be more than a bit, but it's still pretty impressive that the latest id Software shooter can run alongside Isabelle and friends at all.

The Doom Eternal release for Switch is now a digital-only affair. Last month, GameStop began canceling pre-orders for physical copies of the game, which prompted Bethesda to confirm that the release would still be happening sans cases and bitter-tasting game cards.

An official Bethesda FAQ confirms that the first chunk of single-player DLC for Doom Eternal, The Ancient Gods: Part One, "will arrive at a later date." The expansion just launched a month ago on other platforms, so there's a good chance it'll take less time to make it to Switch than the base game has.

If you haven't played Eternal yet and want to check it out, it may be worth looking at other platforms. It joined Xbox Game Pass for consoles shortly after Microsoft announced its plans to acquire ZeniMax and Doom publisher Bethesda, and it should be heading to the service for PC any day now. Free next-gen upgrades for PlayStation and Xbox are also on the way. Eternal might turn out to be a perfectly passable experience on Switch (hey, it'll even have optional gyro aiming controls), but it won't be hard to find a better looking experience at a lower price if you've got the right hardware.