Borderlands 4's Rocky Launch: Gearbox Scrambles to Fix Performance

Last Updated: October 20, 2025

The chaotic, loot-filled world of Borderlands 4 has finally arrived, but for many Vault Hunters, the launch experience has been defined less by claptrap humor and bazillions of guns, and more by stuttering framerates and frustrating crashes. The highly anticipated looter-shooter launched to widespread reports of significant performance issues, particularly on PC, souring the first taste of the new planet Kairos for a vocal portion of the player base.

In a move to quell the growing unrest, Gearbox has been working diligently on a series of post-launch fixes. The initial response included a day-one patch, but it quickly became clear that the deep-seated optimization problems required more than a simple hotfix. As complaints mounted on forums and social media, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford became personally involved, publicly acknowledging the problems and assuring fans that rectifying the performance woes was the studio's "top priority."

This direct engagement from the studio head was a critical moment, signaling to the frustrated community that their complaints were being taken seriously at the highest level. Pitchford's hands-on approach, which included interacting with players on social media to troubleshoot, was a clear directive to the development team: this was an all-hands-on-deck situation to restore faith in the game and the studio.

The Path to a Fix: Patches and Driver Updates

While the launch was rocky, the path to a smoother experience is becoming clearer. The initial patches deployed in mid-September addressed some of the most critical stability issues, but many players continued to report persistent stuttering and low FPS, even on high-end hardware.

The most significant breakthrough for PC players came with a coordinated effort between Gearbox and NVIDIA. Gearbox is now strongly encouraging all PC players using NVIDIA GeForce hardware to update to the latest drivers (version 581.57 or newer), which were specifically optimized to address performance bottlenecks in Borderlands 4. This driver update, combined with the game's ongoing patches, has reportedly provided a substantial performance uplift for many users, finally allowing them to enjoy the mayhem on Kairos as intended.

Console Woes and Ongoing Optimization

While the PC version has received the most attention, players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S have not been immune to problems. Console Vault Hunters have also reported inconsistent performance and game crashes, indicating a broader set of optimization challenges. Gearbox has confirmed it is actively investigating these reports and has rolled out console-specific patches aimed at improving stability. However, community feedback suggests the results have been mixed, and further optimization work is still required across all platforms.

A Bumpy Ride for a Beloved Franchise

A smooth launch is vital for any major release, and for a sequel as anticipated as Borderlands 4, the initial technical stumbles were a significant blow. First impressions matter, and performance hiccups can easily overshadow a game's core strengths, leading to negative reviews and player frustration.

For the legion of fans who have invested thousands of hours in the series, the desire to dive into the next chapter is immense. The core Borderlands experience—the vibrant art style, irreverent humor, and addictive loot-and-shoot gameplay—remains intact. Yet, these technical issues have, for many, obscured an otherwise solid entry in the franchise. The quick and transparent response from Gearbox and Pitchford, however, demonstrates an understanding of this critical post-launch period and a commitment to mitigating long-term damage to the game's reputation.

With major driver updates now available and further patches on the horizon, the situation is improving daily. The immediate focus for players, especially on PC, should be ensuring all system drivers are up to date. While the launch of Borderlands 4 was far from perfect, the ongoing efforts show a clear commitment to getting players back to what matters most: glorious, unhindered mayhem and the hunt for legendary loot.