Borderlands 4 Day One Patch Promises Improvements, But Old PCs Beware

Gearbox is gearing up for the highly anticipated launch of Borderlands 4, but fans are already buzzing about performance concerns and the inevitable day one patch. Randy Pitchford, Gearbox’s development chief, recently confirmed that the launch patch “does a lot” to improve stability and performance, yet cautioned players not to expect miracles if they’re running the looter-shooter on older PCs.

This acknowledgment has sparked a mix of excitement, frustration, and resignation among the Borderlands community.

The game officially arrives on September 12 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). A Nintendo Switch 2 version will follow shortly after. As always with big-budget AAA releases, the day one patch is practically mandatory if players want to avoid glaring issues at launch. Pitchford noted that while the patch addresses a wide range of optimizations and bug fixes, trying to run the game on anything below the minimum specifications will result in poor or outright unplayable performance. In other words, Borderlands 4 isn’t designed to squeeze into outdated setups.

This warning echoes an industry-wide reality. A significant share of PC gamers continue to play on low-to-mid spec rigs. Just last month, developers of Battlefield 6 reported that many beta participants were testing the game below even the recommended requirements. Borderlands 4 appears to be walking the same tightrope: it will reward players with current-gen hardware but will punish those who are hoping to coast by on an older system.

Despite these concerns, anticipation for the game remains sky-high. Many fans are hyped to return to the chaotic universe, especially with promises of a more grounded and narrative-driven story this time around. In interviews, Gearbox’s narrative team has emphasized a deeper emotional core compared to Borderlands 3, which drew criticism for uneven writing. Long-time players are also holding out hope that the looting systems and endgame content feel more rewarding than before.

Still, skepticism persists. The culture of relying on massive day one patches has become a sore point across the gaming industry. To some players, it feels like publishers are pushing unfinished products out the door, leaving early adopters to serve as unpaid testers. Others take it in stride, seeing patches as a standard part of modern development, even if the practice undermines the idea of a polished launch.

For Borderlands 4, the stakes are high. Loyal fans expect a strong return after the mixed reception of Borderlands 3, while skeptics warn that performance hiccups or heavy monetization could dampen enthusiasm. Whether the day one patch truly stabilizes the experience – or simply papers over deeper cracks – remains to be seen once players dive in on release day.