Info about Borderlands 4:

Official game description:
Borderlands 4 - Story Pack 1: Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned
===================================================================
**The dread winds howl. The cracks grow wider. We are expecting you.**
**New Content:**
_• New Vault Hunter C4SH the Rogue, playable across all of Borderlands 4_
_• New map zone, The Whispering Glacier, packed with new story missions, side missions, activities, and collectibles_
_• Two new major boss fights and 16 minibosses who can drop new Pearlescent and Legendary gear, including powerful weapons and Class Mods_
_• Fight the nightmarish new army of the DAHL Legion, as well as Kraggons and Scavs!_
_• New cosmetic items including:_
_\- 2 Vault Hunter Heads usable by all Vault Hunters_
_\- 4 Vault Hunter Skins usable by all Vault Hunters_
_\- 8 Vault Hunter Heads usable by C4SH_
_\- 2 Vault Hunter Bodies usable by C4SH_
_\- 4 Weapon Skins_
_\- 4 Vehicle Skins_
_\- 3 ECHO-4 Drone Skins & Attachments_
_\- 1 ECHO-4 Frame_
Roadmap
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DELUXE AND SUPER DELUXE EDITIONS
================================
\*Borderlands 4 Bounty Pack Bundle consists of 4 separate post-launch DLC packs: Bounty Pack 2, 3, 4, and 5. The Bounty Pack Bundle is included with the Deluxe and Super Deluxe Editions of Borderlands 4. The Bounty Pack Bundle, and the individual DLC packs that make up the bundle, will also be available for separate purchase at launch (base game required). Exact release timings of each DLC pack to be announced at a later date and will be subject to change. Terms apply.
\*\*Borderlands 4 Vault Hunter Pack consists of 2 separate post-launch DLC packs. The Vault Hunter Pack is included with Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Edition. The Vault Hunter Pack, and the individual DLC packs that make up the bundle, will also be available for separate purchase at launch (base game required). Exact release timings of each DLC pack to be announced at a later date and will be subject to change. Terms apply.
About the Game
==============
_Borderlands 4_ brings intense action, badass Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant.
Crash into Kairos as one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities.
Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing Mayhem across the planet.
Become an unstoppable force of battle, blasting through enemies with an all-new arsenal of outrageous weaponry. Move across the Borderlands like never before—double jumping, gliding, dodging, grappling, and more—dealing death from every direction. Explode each encounter with devastating Action Skills that unleash your Vault Hunter's unique abilities. Craft your perfect build with branching skill trees and a deep, rewarding loot chase full of wild weapons and powerful gear.
Wreaking havoc across Kairos is awesome alone and even better with friends in 4-player online co-op.\* _Borderlands 4_ is designed for co-op from the ground up; whether you're hunting for loot, tackling missions, or wandering freely, level scaling and individual difficulty keeps the party together and having fun.
Freely explore a vast and dangerous world rife with warring factions. Hop on your hover bike and ride through lush fields, towering peaks, and deadly deserts full of fearsome enemies, dynamic events, and engaging quests with unforgettable characters. Unite the people of Kairos and ignite a revolution, tackling this adventure however you see fit in a seamless _Borderlands_ experience.
_\*Online play requires Internet connection, and cross-play requires SHiFT Account. Terms apply._

Release date: Sep 11, 2025

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Cooperative Multiplayer, Character Progression, Weapon Customization, Action RPG, Exploration, Multiple Endings, Mod Support

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 85; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game exhibits several predatory monetization practices, including day-1 DLC, overpriced DLCs and editions, a high base price, and pay-to-win mechanics. These practices can significantly impact the user experience by making players feel like they are being nickel-and-dimed for content that should be part of the base game or by creating an unbalanced playing field for those who do not spend extra money.
- Mods: score 45; verdict: High Reliance on Community Fixes; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a significant reliance on community-created mods to optimize and enhance the performance of the game. Many users report that the vanilla game experience is subpar, with issues such as frame stutters, drops, and overall poor performance. Specific mods are frequently recommended to address these problems, indicating that the community fixes are essential for an improved gaming experience. Additionally, there is notable frustration among users about the necessity of using these mods, suggesting that the base game does not meet performance expectations. Engine-specific issues, particularly with Unreal Engine 5, are also highlighted as a common problem that mods help to mitigate.
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Significant Improvement; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with technical stability, navigation, game mechanics, story depth, and performance optimization. The most severe problems include frequent crashes and the need for external guides to progress, which greatly hinder the user experience. While some users report satisfactory performance, others face substantial technical difficulties, highlighting a lack of consistent optimization.
- Proton/Linux: score 30; verdict: Works Well with Minor Tweaks; summary: The game generally runs well on Linux, especially with AMD GPUs and appropriate settings. However, there are notable issues with DRM and anti-cheat systems, which can prevent users from playing the game. Various workarounds and tweaks have been found to improve performance, and many users have had positive experiences. Graphical issues and driver problems, particularly with NVIDIA GPUs, have also been reported.
- Steam Deck: score 75; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the Steam Deck experience of the game. Major themes include frequent crashes and stability problems, poor performance and optimization requiring high-end hardware, numerous gameplay bugs affecting quests and multiplayer functionality, reliance on upscaling technologies due to poor optimization, and compatibility issues with certain platforms. These issues collectively contribute to a frustrating user experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $30.00 - $50.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users are generally dissatisfied with the game's performance and price. Many suggest waiting for discounts or improvements before purchasing. The common sentiment is that the game is not worth its full price of $69.99 due to performance issues and other problems. Some users mention that a price around $50 would be more appropriate, especially with additional content included.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 45.0h
  - Story completion: 25.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 50.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that players have spent significant time playing the game, with some mentioning playtimes exceeding 100 hours. This indicates a high level of engagement and suggests that the game offers substantial content to keep players invested for extended periods. The quotes also highlight the game's replayability and the time spent on various activities such as farming bosses and completing achievements, which are typical indicators of a game's depth and longevity.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Borderlands 4 has a delayed onset of fun due to repetitive missions, an unengaging storyline, and technical issues. Players may need to overcome initial frustrations before finding enjoyment, particularly in cooperative play.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Cooperative play with friends
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive missions; Unengaging storyline; Technical issues (memory leaks, invisible walls); Boring side quests; Boring procedurally generated guns
  - Unlock drivers: Cooperative play with friends; Exploration and discovery of new elements
  - Conditions: Playing with friends in cooperative mode; Exploring the open world; Discovering unique weapons and builds
- Player Archetypes:
  - Performance Optimizer (sale)
    - Motivation: Optimizing game performance and stability.
    - Playstyle: Technical and methodical, focusing on improving game performance and stability.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Tech-savvy; Performance-focused
    - Reference games: Borderlands 3; Cyberpunk 2077
  - Franchise Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying the unique aspects of the Borderlands franchise.
    - Playstyle: Exploratory and immersive, focusing on the game's story, humor, and loot mechanics.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Borderlands fan; Loot enthusiast
    - Reference games: Borderlands 2; Borderlands 3
  - Story-First Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Experiencing the game's story and narrative.
    - Playstyle: Story-driven and exploratory, focusing on the game's narrative and characters.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Story enthusiast; Narrative-focused
    - Reference games: The Witcher 3; Mass Effect
  - Critical Cautious (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a polished and well-performing game.
    - Playstyle: Critical and cautious, focusing on identifying and pointing out the game's flaws.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Critical player; Performance-conscious
    - Reference games: No Man's Sky; Fallout 76


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Smooth and satisfying gunplay (weight 0.21): The gameplay and gunplay are highlighted as smooth, satisfying, and well-done. Players enjoy the combat, parkour, and gun design, finding the gunplay to be on point and brilliant.
- Enjoyable and engaging gameplay (weight 0.19): Players consistently report that the game is fun and entertaining, with enjoyable mechanics and engaging gameplay. Many players found the game solid and fun enough to platinum it.
- Great graphics and visuals (weight 0.18): The game is praised for its great graphics, stunning visuals, and appealing art direction. Players appreciate the distinctive and cartoon-like graphics that run well.
- Improved story compared to Borderlands 3 (weight 0.16): The story is considered better than that of Borderlands 3, with improved writing and character quality. Many players find the story to be intriguing, new, and interesting.
- New gameplay features (weight 0.12): Players appreciate the new gameplay features, mechanics, and movement options. These additions are seen as improvements and evolutions of the game.
- Engaging boss fights (weight 0.09): Boss fights are described as incredible, unique, and engaging. Players enjoy the challenging and fun boss battles with good designs.
- Thoughtful skill trees (weight 0.09): The skill trees are praised for being interesting, well-done, and massive. Players appreciate the variety and thoughtfulness put into the skill trees.
- Great for Borderlands fans (weight 0.09): The game is recommended for Borderlands fans, retaining the charm and style of the series. It is considered one of the best Borderlands games in terms of gameplay.
- Variety in builds and weapons (weight 0.08): The game offers a variety of builds, weapons, and enemy types. Players enjoy the diverse weapon systems and varied equipment.
- Excellent side quests (weight 0.06): The side quests are described as excellent, funny, well voice-acted, and varied. Players find the side missions to be great and enjoyable.
- Improved performance optimizations (weight 0.06): The game has improved performance optimizations, running well on medium settings. Players recommend using optimization guides for better performance.
- Interesting new vault hunters (weight 0.06): The new vault hunters are described as interesting and cool, offering many possible builds. Players find the new vault hunters to bring entirely new gameplay experiences.
- Convenient vehicle summoning (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the ability to summon vehicles on demand, finding it convenient and useful. This feature adds to the overall gameplay experience.
- Improved combat mechanics (weight 0.05): The combat mechanics are described as improved, flowing better, and feeling very clean. Players enjoy the fluid and exciting combat.

Common complaints:
- Lack of atmosphere and story depth (weight 0.23): The game lacks atmosphere, with uninspired environments and a lack of excellent music. The story is also criticized for being slow, not deep, and lacking personality and humor.
- Performance and optimization issues (weight 0.22): The game suffers from various performance problems including long loading times, poor framerate, severe FPS drops, and high CPU usage. These issues are exacerbated by poor optimization, leading to a subpar gaming experience.
- Empty open world (weight 0.21): The open world feels empty and stretched out with too much empty space, making it feel unfinished and shallow. This design flaw leads to a boring and unengaging exploration experience.
- Lack of endgame content (weight 0.17): Players find the endgame content lacking and boring, with little to no meaningful activities after reaching the level cap. The endgame is described as nonexistent or very boring, needing significant improvement.
- Shader compilation issues (weight 0.14): Players experience long shader compilation times, which can be annoying and take too long. This includes frequent shader recompilation and excessive shader compilations during loading screens.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.14): The game crashes frequently, with some players experiencing crashes multiple times per session. This includes crashes on launch and during multiplayer, significantly affecting the gaming experience.
- Lack of humor (weight 0.1): The game lacks the classic Borderlands tone and absurdity, with a serious and somber story. Players miss the humor from previous games, finding the current game not as funny.
- Poor loot system (weight 0.08): The loot system is criticized for being boring and mostly useless. Players find the loot to be uninteresting and of poor quality, even on harder difficulties.
- Difficulty imbalance (weight 0.08): The game's difficulty is criticized for being either too easy or too hard. Enemies are described as too easy for hard mode or unnecessarily strong, leading to an inconsistent challenge.
- Expensive DLCs (weight 0.06): The DLCs are criticized for being overpriced and offering poor value. Players find the DLC prices to be abusive and not worth the cost.
- Unskippable dialogues (weight 0.05): The game features unskippable long dialogues, which can be frustrating for players. This includes non-skippable narrative dialog and NPC monologues.

Gameplay feedback:
- New gameplay mechanics (weight 0.2): The game introduces new mechanics and innovations, including improved movement options and different gameplay mechanics for characters. Combat and exploration mechanics have also been enhanced.
- Open world design (weight 0.19): The game features an open-world structure with four distinct zones, offering a seamless and free-roaming experience. Players can explore various activities and enjoy the sandbox environment.
- Rich loot system (weight 0.12): The game offers a massive amount of loot with a rich loot system, encouraging farming for better equipment. Players can enjoy a variety of loot and drop rates.
- Side quests and missions (weight 0.11): There are numerous quests and side missions available, providing a variety of activities for players. However, some side missions may feel repetitive.
- Story and cutscenes (weight 0.1): The game includes a main storyline with improved writing and skippable cutscenes. The story is better compared to previous iterations, offering a more engaging narrative.
- Improved movement mechanics (weight 0.09): The game features improved movement mechanics, including jetpacks for movement and gliding mechanics. These updates enhance combat flow and exploration.
- Character development and customization (weight 0.09): Players can develop and customize their characters with multiple characters to choose from. Character progression and builds are significant aspects of the game.
- Enemy variety (weight 0.08): The game features a great variety of enemies and bosses, each with unique mechanics. However, some enemy AI behavior and level scaling may feel repetitive.
- Co-op gameplay (weight 0.07): Cooperative gameplay is a significant aspect of the game, allowing players to team up and enjoy the experience together. However, there may be some issues with multiplayer and co-op modes.
- Grapple hook mechanics (weight 0.07): The grapple hook system is used for both exploration and combat, adding a new dimension to traversal and combat mechanics.
- Mission design (weight 0.07): The game includes a variety of missions and side quests, with a focus on both main missions and additional content. However, some missions may feel linear and repetitive.
- Unique boss fights (weight 0.04): The game features unique boss mechanics and field bosses, providing challenging and engaging encounters for players.
- Massive skill trees (weight 0.04): Players can explore massive skill trees with a variety of options for character progression and customization.
- Comparison to Borderlands series (weight 0.04): The game is often compared to previous Borderlands games, with players noting similarities and differences in gameplay and mechanics.

Performance notes:
- Performance and optimization issues (weight 0.36): Many players report performance issues such as long loading times, FPS drops, and poor optimization. These problems are frequent and affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.12): The game experiences frequent crashes, including random crashes and crashes on launch. Some players report crashes occurring multiple times during a single play session.
- Shader compilation problems (weight 0.11): Players encounter long shader compilation times during loading screens, which can be frustrating and time-consuming. This issue is consistently mentioned across various reviews.
- Frame rate issues (weight 0.07): Players experience frequent frame rate drops and stuttering, which can be disruptive to gameplay. These issues are noted across various hardware configurations.
- DLSS dependency for performance (weight 0.06): Players note that DLSS is often required to achieve good FPS, especially at higher resolutions. Without DLSS, the game struggles to maintain high frame rates.
- Graphics artifacts with DLSS (weight 0.04): There are reports of graphics artifacts when using DLSS, which can affect the visual quality of the game. Some players mention pixelation issues even with minimum graphics settings.
- Technical problems with Unreal Engine 5 (weight 0.04): There are technical problems and performance issues specifically related to Unreal Engine 5. These issues affect the overall stability and performance of the game.

Recommendations:
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.17): Many players suggest waiting for a discount before purchasing the game, indicating that the full price may not be justified.
- Not recommended at full price (weight 0.1): Several reviews mention that the game is not worth buying at its current full price unless there is a significant discount.
- Recommended for shooter fans (weight 0.09): The game is worth trying for fans of shooter games and those who enjoy the unique graphic style of the Borderlands series.
- Recommended for Borderlands fans (weight 0.09): The game is highly recommended for fans of the Borderlands series, suggesting it stays true to its roots.
- Wait for bug fixes (weight 0.08): Players advise waiting for bug fixes and performance improvements before buying the game.
- Positive reviews (weight 0.06): Some players highly recommend the game, calling it the best Borderlands game to date and a strong entry in the series.
- Requires high-end PC (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for players with high-end PCs and graphics cards, indicating it may be demanding on hardware.
- Mixed recommendations (weight 0.05): There are mixed reviews, with some recommending the game despite its issues and others not recommending it at all.
- Negative comparisons (weight 0.04): Some reviews mention no positive changes compared to its predecessor and suggest playing other games instead.
- Play previous games instead (weight 0.04): Several reviews recommend playing the first three major games in the series instead of this one.
- Gameplay focus (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for its focus on gameplay, improved combat and movement, and fun boss design.
- Unique experiences (weight 0.03): The game offers quirky stories and a strange but beautiful world to explore, which some players find appealing.
- Purchase recommendations (weight 0.02): Some players recommend buying the game now or purchasing it with the last DLC for a complete experience.
- Try before buying (weight 0.02): Some players suggest trying the game before purchasing to ensure it meets expectations.

Other player notes:
- Improvements needed in cutscene voice acting (weight 0.02): There are suggestions for improving the voice acting in cutscenes, as well as balancing the audio levels.
- Pricing concerns for additional content (weight 0.02): Players have mentioned the pricing of additional content, suggesting it is a topic of interest or concern.
- Playtime discussions (weight 0.02): Several reviews discuss the amount of playtime the game offers, indicating it is a notable aspect for players.
- Health concerns mentioned (weight 0.02): A player reported experiencing their first migraine aura while playing the game.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.36): Players are frustrated primarily due to persistent performance issues, including frequent game crashes, poor optimization, and various bugs. Additional frustrations stem from design choices such as invisible walls, excessive grinding, and poor combat readability, as well as issues with game mechanics like navigation and unclear interactions.
- Disappointment (weight 0.27): Disappointment arises from the game's lack of innovation and depth compared to previous entries in the series. Players are let down by the repetitive gameplay, lack of meaningful endgame content, and a bland story. Additionally, the high price point and lack of significant improvements contribute to the overall dissatisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the game for its engaging gameplay mechanics, improved gunplay, and movement mechanics. The story, characters, and humor are also highlighted as positive aspects that contribute to the overall enjoyment. The variety of weapons and fluid combat mechanics add to the fun experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Satisfaction comes from the game's addictive loot system, story improvements, and smooth gameplay experience. Players appreciate the solid start, enjoyable gameplay, and improvements over time. The open-world gameplay, weapon variety, and character development are also sources of satisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement is generated by the game's massive content, new movement mechanics, and the variety of activities and builds available. Players are also excited about the high-quality content, polished gunplay, and the overall enjoyment of the game. The anticipation of new DLC and character progression adds to the excitement.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger is primarily caused by the game's persistent performance issues, lack of endgame content, and unfair loot systems. Players are also angry about the game's monetization practices, such as selling singular missions as DLCs and the pay-to-reset mechanics. The overall decline in game quality and incomplete content further fuel this anger.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy is derived from the fun gameplay mechanics, improved movement, and the overall enjoyment of the game. Players find joy in the game's humor, story, and the ability to play with friends. The beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay mechanics contribute to the positive experience.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope stems from the anticipation of future improvements and patches that could enhance the game. Players hope that the game's potential will be realized through updates and developer care. The expectation that Borderlands 4 will be better than previous entries also fuels this hope.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Happiness comes from enjoying the gameplay mechanics, skill trees, and quality-of-life improvements. Players are happy with the character diversity and the fun they have playing the game with friends. The overall enjoyable gameplay experience contributes to their happiness.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Mixed feelings arise from the game's combination of positive and negative aspects. While there are improvements in writing and boss fights, issues with the open world and performance create a conflicting experience. Players appreciate some new features but are disappointed by persistent problems.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is evoked by connections to previous games and characters, bringing back childhood memories. Players feel nostalgic about the first playthrough and the familiarity of the gameplay mechanics. The preference for a remaster of a beloved older game also contributes to this feeling.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's character design, build systems, and weapon variety. Players are enthusiastic about the story, music, and the new Pearlescent rarity. The overall engaging gameplay experience and new mechanics fuel this enthusiasm.
- Boredom (weight 0): Boredom results from the lack of new content and repetitive gameplay mechanics. Players find the game tedious due to repetitive farming and daily tasks. The lack of innovation and engaging activities contributes to the feeling of boredom.
- Satisfied (weight 0): Satisfaction comes from a positive overall experience with the game, despite some performance issues. Players are satisfied with the gameplay mechanics, story, and the enjoyable aspects of the game. The solid gameplay experience and improvements contribute to their satisfaction.
- Disappointed (weight 0): Disappointment is caused by the game not meeting expectations and a decline in game quality. Players are disappointed by the repetitive gameplay and lack of significant improvements. The overall experience falling short of expectations fuels this disappointment.
- Excited (weight 0): Excitement is generated by the positive gameplay experience and the anticipation of new DLC. Players are excited about the improved graphics, fun gameplay, and the overall enjoyment of the game. The expectation of future content and updates adds to the excitement.
- Hopefulness (weight 0): Hopefulness stems from the potential for improvement with updates and future DLC. Players are hopeful that the game will improve over time and that their issues will be addressed. The anticipation of future enhancements fuels this hopefulness.
- Fatigue (weight 0): Fatigue is caused by the overwhelming issues and problems in the game, making players tired of dealing with them. The persistent performance issues and repetitive tasks contribute to this feeling of fatigue.
- Gratitude (weight 0): Gratitude is expressed towards the development team for their efforts and the optimization of the game on specific platforms. Players appreciate the updates and improvements made by the developers, contributing to their gratitude.
- Love (weight 0): Love for the game comes from the enjoyment of its mechanics and the overall gameplay experience. Players love the engaging gameplay, character design, and the fun they have playing the game. The positive aspects and enjoyable mechanics contribute to this love.}