Borderlands 4 sells 2 million copies with high Steam player count even with performance issues
The Borderlands 4 launch has been rocky, with the Notebookcheck review confirming subpar optimization. Nevertheless, that hasn’t scared buyers from giving the looter shooter a chance. Alinea Analytics statistics show that the game has sold an estimated two million copies on consoles and PC.
The data and analytics firm believes that over half of the sales were on the Steam platform. In the game’s first week alone, it accumulated 749,000 sales. 2K and Gearbox Software have raked in a projected $150 million in revenue so far.
When considering the game’s Steam player count, its retail dominance isn’t surprising. The title reached its peak count of over 304,000 players on September 14th. Following its first weekend, that number has fallen to a respectable 230,000.
To this point, gamers have been patient, but Borderlands 4 performance problems persist. Stuttering and crashes are a major reason why it currently has a mixed Steam rating. As seen with Monster Hunter Wilds, without improvements, support could dwindle significantly.
Plans to improve Borderlands 4 performance are unclear
Randy Pitchford hasn’t provided much reassurance to fans anxious for progress. The Gearbox CEO’s constant communication is refreshing. On the other hand, many gamers find his social media posts overly defensive. Pitchford believes that too many players are ignoring the Borderlands 4 system requirements. His declaration that the looter shooter is a “premium game made for premium gamers” has also drawn condemnation.
Console users are also struggling to maintain acceptable frame rates. Even if a gamer has an Nvidia RTX 5090 or a PS5 Pro, open-world areas stress systems and lead to choppy visuals. Pitchford argues that DLSS or FSR is essential, but gamers accuse developers of relying too heavily on upscaling.
Despite the Borderlands 4 performance woes, the game addresses some criticisms of its predecessors. Other reviews find its narrative more cohesive, while navigating its expanded game world is less frustrating.
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