Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick attributed Borderlands 4's softer-than-expected sales to challenges with its problematic PC release, despite Gearbox's claims of a nearly optimal launch, and expects future improvements to boost sales.
Borderlands 4 experienced an 85% drop in Steam players one month after launch, dropping from over 300,000 peak players to around 33,000, a common trend for live-service games. Despite the decline, the game still maintains a significant player base, and Gearbox plans to improve endgame content and loot rewards to boost engagement.
Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford humorously admits 'We suck' following Borderlands 4's launch, highlighting the company's ongoing efforts to entertain a global audience and improve their game development over nearly 20 years, despite strong sales of previous titles and a lack of significant competition in the looter-shooter genre.
Borderlands 4 will introduce a new vault hunter named C4sh in early 2026 as part of the first story pack DLC, which also features a new story called Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned. The game has received a patch to improve stability and performance, with additional updates planned, while the upcoming Switch 2 port has been delayed indefinitely.
Gearbox announced the first paid DLC for Borderlands 4, featuring a new character C4SH and a story pack called Mad Ellie, set for Q1 2026. Despite showcasing future content, the game faces ongoing technical issues on PC and delays for Switch 2, with Gearbox recommending refunds for unhappy players, though those with stable performance enjoy the game.
A new bug in Borderlands 4 allows players to use the legendary Noisy Cricket gun to perform a 'super jump' across the map, which Gearbox is currently monitoring but not planning to fix unless it causes technical issues, as it offers a fun exploit for players and speedrunners.
Borderlands 4 faces significant performance decline on consoles over time, with players experiencing drops in frame rate after about 30 minutes of gameplay. The recommended workaround is to restart the game, which temporarily restores performance, but a permanent fix is awaited from Gearbox through upcoming patches.
Borderlands 4, released six years after its predecessor, reflects longer development times in the gaming industry due to technological advances, studio challenges, and investor pressures, but has been well-received, highlighting the complex balance between quality and release timing.
Borderlands 4's launch on Steam faced performance issues leading to negative reviews, prompting Gearbox to recommend players keep playing for 15 minutes after changing settings to accurately assess performance improvements, and to optimize graphics with Nvidia tools. Despite a Day 1 patch, older hardware may still struggle, and the game’s success could be impacted by early negative feedback.
The article details how Gearbox Software radically changed the art style of Borderlands 1 from a grounded, realistic look to a bold, comic-book style just before its alpha release, a decision that was risky but ultimately pivotal in defining the franchise's iconic visual identity and success.
Borderlands 4's upcoming content roadmap extends into 2026, featuring regular updates, new missions, bosses, gear, and cosmetics, with a mix of free and paid content, resembling a live-service model despite Gearbox's disclaimers.
Gearbox's Borderlands 4 returns to its roots with a live-action trailer 'Quit Earth' that heavily features practical effects, miniatures, and puppetry, directed by Marvel veterans Benson and Moorhead, emphasizing a nostalgic and chaotic vibe for the franchise's comeback.
Borderlands 4 is set to release on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 3, 2025, following its launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox, with the announcement confirmed by Randy Pitchford in a social media video.
Borderlands 4 will be released on Switch 2 on October 3, just three weeks after its launch on PS5, Xbox, and PC, indicating a quicker and less compromised port thanks to the Switch 2's improved hardware.
Gearbox is navigating the delicate balance between chaos and order in game development, with a focus on their flagship series Borderlands, which is poised to release its most ambitious and potentially best installment yet, reflecting their ability to thrive in the space between categorization and their dedication to the franchise.