Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition Hits November 2025 for Most Platforms, Switch 2 Delayed to 2026

On November 10, 2025, fans of post-apocalyptic RPGs will finally get the definitive version of Bethesda Softworks’s Fallout 4 — but not everyone gets it at the same time. The Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition drops digitally on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC exactly ten years to the day after the original game’s 2015 debut. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch 2 version? It’s coming in 2026. No date. No explanation. Just a quiet delay that’s already sparking rumors, nostalgia, and a whole lot of questions.

Why November 10, 2025? A Decade in the Wasteland

The choice of date isn’t random. It’s a tribute. Fallout 4 originally launched on November 10, 2015, and Bethesda didn’t just pick a random Tuesday in 2025 — they picked the exact anniversary. That’s the kind of detail that matters to fans who spent hundreds of hours exploring the ruins of Boston, raising synth children, or building elaborate vaults in the wasteland. It’s a nostalgic punch wrapped in a digital package. And it’s a smart one. Anniversaries sell. They remind people why they loved the game in the first place.

According to official statements from Bethesda Softworks’s corporate site, the Anniversary Edition will be digital-only across all platforms. No discs. No cartridges. Just a download. That’s a shift from earlier Bethesda anniversary releases, which often included physical collectibles. But in 2025, the industry’s moved on. Digital storefronts dominate. And as 2game.com reported back in November 2023, the message was clear: "Digital-Only on November 10!"

The Switch 2 Delay: Hardware, Contracts, or Something Else?

Here’s where things get interesting. While every other platform gets the game on November 10, 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 version is pushed to 2026. No specific month. No trailer. Not even a teaser. And that’s unusual.

It’s not the first time Nintendo’s been left out of major AAA releases — but it’s the first time Fallout 4 content will appear on any Nintendo platform since Interplay’s Fallout and Fallout 2 hit the N64 in 1998 and 1999. Those were ports, not Bethesda games. This is different. This is the full, modern, DLC-laden experience. The fact that it’s coming at all is a big deal.

So why the delay? Some speculate the Switch 2’s hardware isn’t ready to handle the game’s demanding assets. Others point to licensing or contractual delays — perhaps Microsoft’s ownership of Bethesda since 2021 complicates things with Nintendo, a longtime competitor. There’s also the possibility that Bethesda wants to optimize the version for the new hardware, ensuring it runs smoothly on Nintendo’s hybrid system. Whatever the reason, the gap is telling. It’s not a bug. It’s a choice.

What’s in the Anniversary Edition?

Bethesda hasn’t released a full feature list — yet. But based on past patterns, like the Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas Anniversary Editions, we can expect a few things:

• All 11 pieces of downloadable content, including Far Harbor, Nuka-World, and Wasteland Workshop
• Visual upgrades — improved textures, lighting, and character models
• Mod support on console for the first time (a major win for PC fans who’ve long wished for this)
• Potential quality-of-life tweaks, like better inventory sorting or faster fast-travel

It won’t be a remake. It won’t be a remaster with new mechanics. It’ll be the complete package — the way fans have wanted it since 2015. And for those who never owned the DLCs, this is the ultimate entry point.

Why This Matters Beyond the Wasteland

This isn’t just about one game. It’s about how publishers handle legacy titles in a streaming-first, subscription-driven era. Bethesda’s decision to make the Anniversary Edition digital-only reflects a broader industry trend: physical media is fading. Even collectors are buying digital. The delay for Switch 2 also highlights the growing divide between Nintendo’s ecosystem and the rest of the market. Sony and Microsoft have embraced Bethesda’s catalog. Nintendo? They’re still playing catch-up.

And then there’s the fanbase. Millions of people who grew up with Fallout are now in their 30s and 40s. They have jobs. Kids. Bills. They don’t have time to hunt down old discs or dig through Steam sales. The Anniversary Edition is their chance to relive the game — in one clean, polished package. That emotional connection? That’s what drives sales.

What’s Next?

The next 12 months will be critical. Bethesda will likely drop trailers, gameplay snippets, and maybe even a mod showcase before November 2025. If the Switch 2 version doesn’t get a 2026 date by mid-year, speculation will turn into frustration. And if the game runs poorly on the new hardware, backlash could be swift.

For now, the clock is ticking. On November 10, 2025, the wasteland will reopen — for most. But for Switch owners, the wait continues. And in gaming, waiting can feel like being left behind.