(Credit: Gearbox Software)
These days, a "looter shooter" is one of the most common genre hybrids in the video game space. However, when the original Borderlands dropped in 2009, it wowed many gamers by combining visceral first-person gunplay with Diablo-esque gear and RPG systems. Not even an awful Hollywood movie could keep the series down as the next main installment, Borderlands 4, arrives on Sept. 12. If you're ready to crack new vaults, see if your gaming PC has the minimum specs needed to power this highly anticipated game.
What Is Borderlands 4's Story?
The Borderlands mythos is so dense that there are entire story-driven adventure games diving deeper into it. The franchise revolves around the planet Pandora, a dangerous world full of alien treasures that attracts Vault Hunters from across the universe looking for the next big score. However, Borderlands 4 has a new locale: You fight against a dictatorship on a new planet impacted by Pandora's moon. While the game retains the signature cel-shaded, colorful art style, the developers at Gearbox have promised a less annoyingly comedic tone.
Release Date, Price, and Platforms
Borderlands 4 will be released on Sept. 12, 2025, for $69.99. You can play it on PC (via Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch 2 version drops a few weeks later, on Oct. 3.
Want even more Borderlands 4? For $99.99, the Borderlands 4 Deluxe Edition includes extra gear, cosmetics, and missions. For $129.99, the Borderland 4 Super Deluxe Edition adds more playable characters, story packs, and map regions.
Borderlands 4: Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X or Intel Core i7-9700
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070
- Storage: 100GB available space, SSD required
(Credit: Gearbox Software)Borderlands 4: Recommended System Requirements
- OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X or Intel Core i7-12700
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800-XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
- Storage: 100GB available space, SSD required
Control Schemes and Day-One Patch
Borderlands 4 is a title focused on collecting and shooting a variety of guns, so it makes sense that the PC game supports mouse and keyboard controls. As a title heading to consoles, it also lets you play using a gamepad. Steam Deck support isn't available, but the existence of a Switch 2 version suggests Steam Deck compatibility shouldn't be a huge lift.
Before you fire up Borderlands 4, remember to download its fixes. On launch day, it will receive a significant day-one patch that delivers PC performance improvements. You should grab the day-one patch even if your PC components are top shelf.
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