Borderlands 4 has experienced a tumultuous six-month journey. Since its release in September last year, Gearbox's looter shooter has faced numerous controversies, primarily centered around significant PC performance problems. CEO Randy Pitchford has been vocal, engaging directly with complaints on social media and clapping back at dissatisfied fans. Strauss Zelnick, head of Gearbox's parent company Take-Two, acknowledged that Borderlands 4 sales experienced "a slight dip" due to these technical challenges but remained optimistic, stating "it'll all be recovered" with time. Throughout this period, Borderlands 4 has maintained a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam. After debuting with over 300,000 concurrent players on Valve's platform, the game now sees peak concurrent numbers in the four-digit range. While Steam data doesn't capture a game's full popularity, it's evident Borderlands 4 could use a revitalizing boost.
Gearbox is pinning its hopes on Story Pack 1, named Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned, to provide that much-needed boost. This premium DLC, available starting today, introduces a new playable character called C4SH, a fresh map area, two major boss encounters, 16 minibosses, and additional content. Concurrently, Gearbox has focused on enhancing PC performance, claiming substantial improvements in frame rates. So, is this the perfect moment to dive back into the action?
In a pre-release interview with IGN, lead game designer Josh Jeffcoat and managing producer Eli Luna highlighted how C4SH and the new features are designed to entice lapsed fans to return to Borderlands 4 and possibly even attract newcomers to give it a try.
