When will Doom Eternal come to Nintendo Switch?

Doom Eternal Nintendo Switch
Doom Eternal Nintendo Switch (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / iMore)

When will Doom Eternal come to Nintendo Switch?

Best Answer: Doom Eternal will finally come to Nintendo Switch on December 8, 2020. However, it will only be available in a digital format.Here to slay: Doom Eternal ($60 at Nintendo)

Why didn't it come to Switch on March 20, 2020?

Xbox One and PS4 owners both got to experience Doom Eternal earlier this year, but the game didn't release on Switch. So, why the delay? The gaming company, Panic Button, has been given the task of porting Doom Eternal to Nintendo Switch. This particular company has worked on past Doom titles and, in conjunction with Bethesda, wants to make sure that players get the best experience possible on Nintendo Switch. This port integrity partially accounts for the delay. Here's what id Software's Marty Stratton has said on the matter:

It's coming out a bit later than the game is on current consoles and PC, and really that's just because we want to finish the game on those platforms and then give Panic Button – our partner on it – the time they need to really pull those refinements into the Switch version. It's not going to be a huge delay, but we haven't announced the launch time frame yet, but they are fantastic partners. They are masters of that platform.

Panic Button is being "uncompromising" in its porting responsibilities and wants the game to be an enjoyable experience on the Nintendo Switch. According to Stratton, who's had the chance to play the game on this particular platform, he was "stunned" by this version and thinks it's going to surprise people.

What is Doom Eternal?

The very first Doom game was a first-person shooter that launched in 1993 for MS-DOS computers. It inspired several sequels, comic books, board games, mobile games, and other media. Today the series is still going strong and continues to focus on "Doomguy" hacking and slashing his way violently through demon hordes that literally came from Hell...on Mars. Don't think about it too much. Despite the base plot being so ridiculous that it's awesome, these are challenging games that require quick thinking and fast response times.

Doom Eternal is a direct sequel to the 2016 entry and features several new aspects like the flamethrower, which you can use to incinerate your enemies to a crisp. As you make your way through the game, you'll still get to listen to some sweet heavy metal songs while brutally destroying oncoming foes.

Why is Doom Eternal on Switch digital-only?

Bethesda Softworks has not explained its decision to only release Doom Eternal as a digital-only game. However, Doom Eternal's official website makes it sound like a physical version might be in the cards later down the road. We'll just have to wait and see.

Doom Eternal Qa Page

Doom Eternal Qa Page (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

Regardless of the format, we can't wait to get our hands on the Nintendo Switch version!

Rebecca Spear
Gaming Editor

Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend.