Why Borderlands 4’s Chaos Is Too Hard to Resist

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I spent over 61 hours playing *Borderlands 4*, completed the hardest difficulty, and explored almost everything the game had to offer. It’s disappointing that all of that was overshadowed by recent issues with the game’s creator, Randy Pitchford. After six years of development with a much larger budget than previous games, it’s understandable he might be stressed. However, his responses – like telling unhappy players to ask for a refund, downplaying reported issues, or giving incorrect performance advice – were unhelpful, to say the least.

Despite the issues surrounding its release, *Borderlands 4* has actually done quite well. While official sales numbers haven’t been released, Alinea Analytics estimates over two million copies were sold in the first week, with over one million coming from Steam. This generated around $150 million in revenue. Player numbers are also strong – it’s by far the biggest launch on Steam this year, and daily player counts have been very high. Even with many reviews pointing out problems with performance, optimization, and the game’s development, some players are still enjoying it and recommend buying it when it’s on sale.

The success of the new *Borderlands* game isn’t a huge shock. Despite criticism of *Borderlands 3*’s story, it was the fastest-selling game in the series thanks to its strong gameplay. This new installment builds on that success with improved movement, even more satisfying shooting, and more options for customizing your character. While I do have some problems with the story – the new characters aren’t very memorable, and the missions can feel repetitive – it seems Gearbox listened to player feedback and made a lot of positive changes. The main story doesn’t progress much until the very end, and even then, it’s gradual.

Legendary items feel truly special in this game – they aren’t overly common like in *Borderlands 3*, but there are enough to make you want to keep playing to find the perfect version. The Licensed Parts system adds to this, though it can be both satisfying and frustrating (and honestly, please remove Ripper Mags!). I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the option to quickly rematch bosses – I lost hours doing “just one more run.”

The final stages of the game can be really tough, particularly if you start before reaching level 40. It might seem impossible at first, but as you understand how everything works – things like character specializations, legendary items, firmware upgrades, and skill trees – it all starts to come together. You’ll start to feel more powerful – not invincible, but capable of easily handling many challenges.

All these elements come together to satisfy what players really want in looter shooters: a sense of meaningful progression. Even small improvements, like a one percent boost in a skill tree, or a powerful shield with great health and damage reduction, feel rewarding. Seeing your build become stronger is genuinely satisfying. Combined with the engaging gameplay – constantly shooting, using grenades, or deploying allies – it makes the experience fun and keeps you coming back for more.

One thing that makes *Borderlands 4* special is that it’s a classic looter shooter. Whether you love or dislike the game’s humor or how it plays, Gearbox clearly knows what this type of game should be. Unlike games like *Destiny 2* that rely on endless grinding and constant logins to stay engaged, *Borderlands 4* offers a complete story and a satisfying endgame. It shows you everything the game has to offer and lets you decide how to enjoy it.

If you’re aiming for the absolute strongest build to defeat bosses incredibly quickly, that’s really the core appeal of games focused on collecting loot, isn’t it?

Gearbox still plans to expand the game after release with things like smaller events, challenging bosses, new characters, and story content. Regular weekly activities, such as the Big Encore Boss, Wildcard Missions, and Maurice’s Black Market, will also encourage players to return. However, it doesn’t feel like a typical ‘live service’ game. Unlike some games, there isn’t a central social space where you constantly see other players unless you specifically join co-op gameplay.

As a fan, I’m really loving that this game is fully playable offline! And honestly, the amount of customization is amazing – you unlock tons of cool stuff just by *playing* the game, which is wild coming from Bungie. Even their ‘battle pass’ style system, the Vault Card, is purely cosmetic. Everything that makes the game fun and rewarding – all the gear and worthwhile stuff – you get just by enjoying the gameplay. It’s a fresh approach, and I’m totally here for it!

While many live-service loot shooters have struggled and even failed, *Borderlands 4* does a great job of avoiding those pitfalls and actually improves upon long-standing issues in the series. It’s especially enjoyable for players who prioritize exploring the game world, getting to know the characters, and uncovering the rich backstory, rather than obsessing over perfect builds. The world of Kairos is surprisingly fun to explore, although some features, like the compass, could still use some improvements.

Like all online games, *Borderlands 4* will eventually see its player base shrink – likely down to just a few thousand, and people will start calling it ‘dead.’ Gearbox will inevitably make changes that upset some players, especially those who’ve invested a lot of time perfecting their strategies. We’ll probably see some drama from Randy Pitchford too. The story expansions and new characters might not live up to expectations. It’s just the natural cycle of these games, despite any efforts to avoid it. And once Gearbox moves on, don’t expect a quick return to the *Borderlands* universe – it could be a decade or more before we see another installment, let alone a continuation of the current storylines.

There’s a certain appeal to a game that feels satisfying as it is, and it’s likely many of the millions of players feel the same way. Despite the debates about the potential $80 price tag (which thankfully didn’t happen) and whether the game is worth its current price considering the technical problems, sometimes simply enjoying a game and being able to put it down – maybe returning to it later, or not – is enough. That’s something to keep in mind, especially as the gaming industry continues to push live service games even with all their drawbacks.

The opinions shared in this article are the author’s own and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2025-09-23 17:43