Borderlands 4 Performance Issues Lead to Mixed Reception, Gearbox Responds

The launch of Borderlands 4 has been overshadowed by widespread reports of Borderlands 4 performance issues on both PC and console, with Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford stepping in to defend the game’s technical state. The controversy began soon after release, as players on Steam left a surge of negative reviews citing stuttering, inconsistent frame rates, and optimization complaints.

Pitchford, however, has made it clear he believes the criticism is overstated.

"The game is pretty damn optimal," Pitchford wrote on X. "Every PC gamer must accept the reality of the relationship between their hardware and what the software they are running is doing." — Randy Pitchford

According to Pitchford, expecting flawless high-resolution gameplay at ultra settings alongside extremely high frame rates is unrealistic for PCs that only meet or slightly exceed the Borderlands 4 system requirements. He emphasized that the game provides multiple options for players to balance resolution, graphical features, and FPS based on individual preferences.

He went on to argue that Borderlands 4 was designed around a 60 FPS benchmark at recommended settings rather than pushing for higher framerates at all costs. Pitchford said players seeking maximum visual fidelity in 4K will inevitably need to sacrifice performance, just as those prioritizing framerate should be prepared to scale back graphical features.

"It is a mistake to believe or expect that PCs between minimum specification and recommended specification can achieve all of extremely high frame rate, maximum/ultra features, and extremely high resolution," Pitchford explained.

Despite the defensive tone, Gearbox has admitted that there are legitimate technical problems for some users. Pitchford acknowledged "a very, very small percentage of users" are experiencing what he called “real issues” and said the studio is doing "significant" work on fixes. In the meantime, he advised players to lower resolution or use scaling solutions like DLSS, stating that the game was built to take advantage of such technology.

The backlash on PC has been visible. Steam currently lists the game with a "Mixed" user rating, a sharp contrast to its otherwise successful launch that saw over 300,000 concurrent players at peak.

Console players, meanwhile, have encountered a separate frustration tied to the lack of a field-of-view (FOV) slider, which is available on PC. Some players reported the default zoom level is uncomfortably close and even causes motion sickness during extended play sessions. Pitchford dismissed speculation about motion blur being the culprit but added that the FOV option was deliberately excluded on consoles due to potential "fairness" concerns in undisclosed future content. He teased that the restriction might be related to upcoming features, saying only: "Be aware - you have no idea what the team and I were planning and how FOV slider might affect fairness with such a thing."

In response to community pressure, Pitchford even posted a poll asking whether players wanted a FOV slider. Nearly three-quarters of respondents chose the strongest affirmative option, "FOV slider or GTFO," making it clear that the demand for the setting is widespread.

While Gearbox continues to patch and optimize, the early turbulence has left a mark on the game’s critical reception. A Borderlands 4 review is currently in progress across major outlets after no early review code was distributed before launch. This delay means impressions have been largely shaped by community response, where debate around optimization and quality-of-life features has been louder than discussion of the game’s campaign or content.

The situation raises questions about Gearbox’s launch strategy, with players split between enjoying the scale and style of the looter shooter and criticizing the technical polish. The studio has positioned Borderlands 4 as a long-term service with updates and support, so early frustrations may be smoothed out over time, but the conversation around optimization is unlikely to fade soon.

For now, the discourse around Borderlands 4 performance issues underscores the tension between developer expectations and player demands. As Gearbox works on patches and players await the first wave of post-launch reviews, the debate will continue to shape the game’s reputation well beyond its release week.