The recent announcement regarding the pricing, availability, and system specifications for Borderlands 4 has stirred a wave of discontent among fans of the franchise. The unveiling, which took place on Monday, revealed a set of minimum and recommended PC specifications that many players find troubling. The recommended specs call for an octa-core CPU and a graphics card no less than an RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT, alongside a hefty 32GB of RAM. Additionally, players will need to allocate up to 100GB of SSD storage for the game at launch, raising eyebrows and questions about the necessity of such demanding requirements for a title known for its distinctive cel-shaded art style.
PC specs seem high for a ‘cel-shaded’ shooter looter
Borderlands has always distinguished itself with its unique visual style, characterized by a cel-shading technique that employs thick outlines and stylized textures. This artistic approach typically suggests lower hardware demands; however, the series has consistently integrated advanced graphical enhancements and effects that can strain even high-end systems. The earlier installments utilized Nvidia PhysX for dynamic effects, while Borderlands 3 shifted to a more versatile GPU-agnostic method. Now, with Borderlands 4 set to leverage the demanding Unreal Engine 5, players are left pondering the implications for their current setups.
Moreover, the inclusion of performance-impacting DRM, specifically Denuvo and Symbiote, has not gone unnoticed. This aspect adds another layer of concern for PC gaming enthusiasts who prioritize performance.
Editions and pricing
In terms of pricing, the Standard Edition of Borderlands 4 is set at .99, a figure that aligns with the launch price of Borderlands 3 and has not sparked significant backlash. However, the Deluxe Edition, priced at .99, and the Super Deluxe Edition at 9.99, have drawn criticism for what many perceive as a ‘paywall’ for essential day-one content. The Deluxe Edition promises additional features, including four unique areas, missions, bosses, new gear, and vehicles, while the Super Deluxe Edition offers two new playable Vault Hunters, each with distinct abilities and skill trees that enhance gameplay and replayability.
Fans are expressing their frustration over the notion that core content is being locked behind higher price points, which could alienate a segment of the player base eager to experience the full breadth of the game without additional financial commitment.
What’s next?
As the release date of September 12 approaches, there is hope that Gearbox, the development team behind the series, will optimize the game to ensure it runs smoothly on a wider range of hardware. For those concerned about pricing and performance, a little patience may yield rewards. Borderlands 4 is set to launch simultaneously on both Steam and the Epic Games Store for PC, as well as on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, while Switch 2 users will have to wait a bit longer for their turn in the Borderlands universe.
