After months of anticipation and more than a little controversy, Borderlands 4 has finally blasted onto the scene, debuting September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. According to a press release from 2K and Gearbox Software, the game will also arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 3, giving fans on nearly every major platform a chance to dive into the latest chapter of the looter-shooter saga.
But the road to release was anything but smooth. Before launch, the mood among fans was skeptical at best. As reported by GameRant, the controversy began when Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford claimed on Twitter that “real fans” would buy the game regardless of price—even if it cost $80. That comment didn’t sit well with many in the Borderlands community, fueling concerns about the game’s pricing strategy. Ultimately, the base version landed at $70, but the Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions, priced at $99.99 and $129.99 respectively, still raised eyebrows. Some fans, remembering the mixed reception of Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, wondered if this new entry could live up to the franchise’s early glory days.
Despite the pre-launch drama, Borderlands 4 has managed to surprise critics and many players alike. According to OpenCritic, the game boasts a Top Critic Average score of 85/100 and a critic approval rating of 97%. On Metacritic, the PC version holds a solid 84/100. These scores make Borderlands 4 the second-highest-rated mainline installment in the franchise, trailing only the beloved Borderlands 2. In fact, it’s tied with the original Borderlands on Metacritic, a testament to its strong reception among reviewers.
Critics have praised the game’s improved gunplay, signature humor, and vibrant visuals. “This is Borderlands perfected,” declared CGMagazine, while GamesRadar+ called it “the best shooter I’ve played in 2025.” XboxEra went so far as to label it “a masterpiece.” Randy Pitchford himself described the game as “the biggest and best game we have ever created.” That’s a bold claim, but early reviews suggest it’s not entirely unwarranted.
Set on the new planet Kairos, Borderlands 4 pits players against the Timekeeper, a tyrannical ruler who has kept the planet hidden for millennia, controlling its inhabitants with cybernetic implants called Bolts and enforcing his will through an army known as The Order. The game introduces four distinct regions, each with unique factions, and a sprawling open world that encourages exploration. Players can recruit friends and enemies alike, all while wielding an arsenal of wild and deadly weapons—the series’ trademark chaos in full effect.
Gameplay innovations are front and center. The Vault Hunter skill trees are deeper and more diverse than ever, offering unprecedented customization. The loot chase is more expansive, and new traversal mechanics, including the summoning of a Digirunner vehicle almost anywhere, mean players can race across Kairos’s vistas with style. The co-op experience, always a Borderlands staple, has been streamlined with instanced loot, dynamic level scaling, and a party system that lets friends stick together even when switching modes. Whether solo or with up to three others, the mayhem is accessible and, for the most part, a blast.
However, not everything is sunshine and loot drops. As reported by Rock Paper Shotgun and echoed by user reviews on Steam, the PC version has been plagued by significant performance issues. Crashing, stuttering, and framerate drops—particularly during large-scale battles—have been widely reported, much of it attributed to the game’s ambitious use of Unreal Engine 5. In response, Gearbox and Nvidia released an exhaustive graphics settings guide for Nvidia GPUs, covering everything from 1080p to 4K resolutions. The guide recommends using DLSS upscaling and frame generation as standard, but even with these tweaks, some players have struggled to achieve consistently smooth performance.
Testing on an 8GB RTX 4060 Ti, for example, produced an average of 99fps with Nvidia’s settings and DLSS enabled, but that number dropped to 62fps without upscaling. Enabling frame generation boosted the apparent framerate to 148fps, but, as noted by Rock Paper Shotgun, the visual experience didn’t actually feel smoother—if anything, it introduced a harsher, grittier look. Some of the recommended settings, such as deep cuts to volumetric clouds and shadow quality, had negligible impact on performance, while others, like foliage density and lighting quality, made a bigger difference. Still, many users reported that no amount of tinkering could fully eliminate stuttering, especially during chaotic fights—a hallmark of the series.
For those on the fence about the game’s technical demands, the message is clear: don’t try to skirt the system requirements. On hardware below spec, even aggressive use of DLSS couldn’t keep the framerate above 30fps in open-world areas, and stuttering remained a constant companion. As Rock Paper Shotgun put it, “it’s not something that can be fixed on our end by changing a few settings.”
Despite these issues, the overall critical consensus remains positive. Borderlands 4 has outperformed both Borderlands 3 and The Pre-Sequel in terms of review scores. While Borderlands 2 still reigns supreme among fans and critics alike, the latest installment is a clear return to form for the franchise. Among the spin-offs, only Telltale’s narrative-driven Tales from the Borderlands has earned higher marks, with its sequel and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands trailing behind.
Players can choose between three editions: the Standard Edition at $69.99, the Deluxe Edition at $99.99 (which includes bonus items and the Bounty Pack Bundle), and the Super Deluxe Edition at $129.99, packed with even more digital content. Post-launch, Gearbox has promised a robust roadmap of free and paid content, ensuring that the mayhem will continue for months to come.
With support for online and local co-op, cross-platform play, and a new party system designed for seamless multiplayer, Borderlands 4 is doubling down on its community-driven roots. Whether you’re a series veteran or a newcomer, there’s plenty of loot to chase and chaos to unleash—just be sure your rig is up to the task.
In the end, Borderlands 4 stands as a testament to both the enduring appeal and the technical ambitions of the franchise. While performance hiccups have taken some shine off its launch, the core experience—wild, irreverent, and packed with loot—remains as compelling as ever for those willing to brave the mayhem.
