CEO Addresses Performance Concerns for Borderlands 4
In a recent series of posts on X, Gearbox Software’s CEO Randy Pitchford responded to player concerns regarding the optimization of Borderlands 4 on PC, asserting that the game’s performance is “pretty damn optimal.” Pitchford emphasized the importance of the relationship between players’ hardware and the software they are utilizing, suggesting that gamers must acknowledge this dynamic.
“We have made an amazing and fun and huge looter shooter campaign game,” Pitchford stated, underscoring the game’s design intent. He elaborated that the software operates efficiently, avoiding unnecessary processes that could detract from performance. “With Borderlands 4, every PC gamer has a lot of tools to balance their preferences between FPS, resolution, and rendering features,” he added, encouraging players to customize settings to enhance their gaming experience.
Pitchford also articulated that it is “absolutely reasonable” for developers to aim for default settings that achieve 30fps on minimum specifications and 60fps on recommended specifications. He cautioned against the expectation that PCs falling between these specifications could deliver ultra-high frame rates alongside maximum graphical features and resolutions.
“If that last post makes you have a negative reaction, I bet you have emotions and expectations that you feel aren’t sufficiently attended to. I’m sorry,” he remarked, urging players to recognize the game’s capabilities while also accepting potential trade-offs between frame rates, features, and resolution based on individual preferences.
He assured fans that Borderlands 4 has “few real issues,” with any persisting problems affecting only a small percentage of users. “We are fixing those and many are already fixed,” he noted, while also committing to ongoing improvements in PC performance and other areas. However, he advised players not to wait for these fixes, suggesting they prioritize their preferences by adjusting settings, such as reducing resolution or utilizing Nvidia’s AI-powered DLSS technology to enhance visuals.
Despite Pitchford’s reassurances, many players have voiced their frustrations regarding performance issues, including unstable frame rates even at lower graphics settings. Digital Foundry’s analysis of Borderlands 4’s PC performance corroborated these concerns, highlighting stuttering, 30 fps cutscenes, and frame rate drops as prevalent issues.
Since its launch on September 11, 2025, Borderlands 4 has garnered a mixed reception on Steam, with numerous negative reviews citing performance, optimization, and crashes as primary reasons for dissatisfaction. This feedback has contributed to an overall Mixed rating for the game. Nevertheless, Borderlands 4 has achieved remarkable success, surpassing 300,000 concurrent players on Steam, positioning it ahead of popular titles such as Skyrim, Halo Infinite, and Rust in the platform’s most-played games of all time.
