Since its launch last week, Borderlands 4 for PC has faced scrutiny over its demanding performance and instability, prompting a response from Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford. Despite being designed for high-end hardware, many players have found it challenging to achieve a satisfactory gaming experience. However, a few adjustments can significantly enhance performance.
Performance Tweaks and Recommendations
Utilizing the Unreal Engine 5, which has garnered a reputation for performance issues, Borderlands 4 operates on the engine’s highest settings, leading to some performance drawbacks. The team at Hardware Unboxed has meticulously analyzed the game’s settings, offering insights into which adjustments can help players regain lost performance.
- The most straightforward method to improve performance is to lower the game’s lighting settings. This adjustment reduces the impact of Unreal Engine 5’s ray-traced lighting, which can be quite demanding.
- In various scenarios, the visual differences between the Very High and Medium settings are minimal, particularly given the unique art style of Borderlands 4. Players can see performance gains exceeding 25% when switching from the highest preset to Medium.
Other settings, such as shadow quality and volumetric cloud quality, can also contribute to performance improvements, albeit to a lesser extent. When combined, these tweaks can yield an impressive enhancement of over 50% in average frame rates, all while maintaining a visually appealing experience. This could be the key to transforming a choppy gameplay experience into a smoother one.
While it appears unlikely that Gearbox will resolve the inherent challenges posed by Unreal Engine, there are potential avenues for improvement. The developer could enhance shader compilation processes before gameplay begins, which may alleviate some stuttering issues. Additionally, fine-tuning the engine settings available to players could help restore average performance to a more acceptable level.
Borderlands 4 marks the latest installment in the beloved looter shooter franchise, successfully delivering the series’ signature first-person action. However, it has struggled to recapture the humor that fans have come to expect. In a recent review, GameSpot rated the game 7/10, with editor Jordan Ramée noting, “If uncovering loot, crafting builds, and unleashing chaotic mayhem is what you’re looking for, Borderlands 4 has you covered.”