Borderlands 4 dev says it’s getting this beloved feature late — here’s why it won’t be at launch

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Finally, after many queries from players, Gearbox Software, the creators of Borderlands 4, have confirmed that a popularly demanded feature is included in their upcoming installment within the looter shooter series. Yet, it won’t be accessible upon the game’s release on September 12; instead, fans will need to be patient for this exciting addition.

As an avid gamer, I can’t help but express my anticipation for the captivating gameplay experiences that Borderlands 4 promises to deliver. However, as a photography enthusiast within the gaming realm, it’s disheartening to learn that Photo Mode won’t be part of the initial release. Over the years, this feature has become an essential tool, empowering players like me to create stunning, cinematic screenshots, with options for color grading filters, depth of field settings, letterboxing, and more. It’s a shame that this staple component won’t be available at launch, but I remain hopeful for its potential inclusion in future updates or expansions.

In simple terms, Graeme Timmins, the creative director of Borderlands 4, announced on Tuesday that the Photo Mode feature will not be available at the game’s launch but will instead be added as an update following its release. He made this known via his social media account.

In our recent development process, we decided to focus on enhancing certain key aspects of the gameplay experience, as they are essential for the immediate user interaction. We’ve long had these improvements in our plans, and they were already assigned tasks; however, we needed a bit more time to ensure they significantly improve the quality of life while playing the game. (June 24, 2025)

Timmins continued by sharing why Photo Mode was delayed, stating that Gearbox prioritized completing critical aspects of the game that impacted real-time play first, before addressing secondary features like Photo Mode.

He explained further, “We decided to focus first on improving certain essential aspects that enhance the gameplay experience from moment to moment. These tasks have been in our plan for some time now, and we’ve already allocated them, but we felt it necessary to dedicate a bit more effort to areas that would significantly improve the quality of life when playing the game.

As a tech enthusiast, I recall the thrill when Borderlands 3, the latest installment in the beloved series, debuted with a Photo Mode exclusively for PC users. It wasn’t until about a month later that Xbox and PlayStation console players could join the fun. Fast forward to Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, the D&D-inspired spinoff of 2022, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Photo Mode was accessible on all platforms from day one.

The reason for my optimism is that the game, Borderlands 4, being built on Unreal Engine 5 and boasting the most visually stunning graphics in the series to date, seems likely to be released with the feature across all its versions at launch. Additionally, it’s important to note that due to its high graphical demands, the PC system requirements for this game are rather steep.

Gearbox’s argument holds water, as impressive as Photo Mode is, it shouldn’t take precedence over critical gameplay systems needing refinement before the game’s official launch. Fingers crossed, it might be added soon after the game hits shelves.

2025 is eagerly awaiting one of its major upcoming Xbox games and PC games: Borderlands 4. This game has immense promise to be among the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year. It introduces four fresh Vault Hunter characters for players to control, continuing the storyline from Borderlands 3. The action unfolds on Kairos, a battleground of a planet governed by a dictator known as The Timekeeper.

The highly anticipated “Borderlands 4” will be available on September 12, 2025 for the following platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. The standard edition costs $69.99, while the Deluxe Edition is priced at a slightly higher $99.99. If you’re looking for an even more enhanced experience, the Super Deluxe Edition goes for $129.99.

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2025-06-25 01:39