Borderlands 4 has landed with high expectations, but its launch has been overshadowed by notable performance issues on consoles. According to a detailed analysis from Digital Foundry, the game suffers from steadily degrading frame rates during extended play sessions, leaving many players frustrated. While the title showcases Gearbox Software’s leap to Unreal Engine 5 with advanced lighting and geometry features, the technological upgrades have also introduced significant stability concerns.
The problems are most apparent in the 60 frames per second performance modes across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and Xbox Series X. Initial gameplay often begins smoothly, but performance weakens after an hour, dipping into the 40s and, in certain case,s falling into the mid-30s during action-heavy encounters. On Xbox Series X, the frame drops are compounded by instances of screen tearing. Digital Foundry suggests that these issues resemble memory leaks seen in other Unreal Engine 5 projects. For now, the only reliable fix is to restart the game, an inconvenient solution that temporarily restores performance.
In contrast, the 30 FPS quality mode delivers greater stability. While it naturally restricts responsiveness in a fast-paced shooter, this mode is better equipped to conceal CPU-related slowdowns. It also enhances visuals with sharper reflections, stronger lighting accuracy through Lumen, and improved texture filtering. However, resolution remains dynamic, generally peaking near 1080p even on the upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro.
Console-specific results show varied outcomes. The PlayStation 5 Pro includes several unannounced upgrades, such as 4K menus, improved foliage rendering, and higher gameplay resolution, although its shadow quality is unchanged from the base model. The Xbox Series S, meanwhile, is locked to 30 FPS with scaled-down visuals, lower resolution that hovers around 720p, and pared-back reflections. Despite these compromises, the smaller console manages to hold a more consistent frame rate, providing stability at the expense of detail.
Digital Foundry’s findings emphasize that while Borderlands 4 benefits from the advanced features of Unreal Engine 5, its technical execution on consoles falls short of expectations. Gearbox Software’s chief, Randy Pitchford, has acknowledged the performance setbacks and confirmed that a patch is underway. Until then, players may need to rely on the stopgap method of rebooting the game to maintain smooth performance.
Borderlands 4, developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K, launched on September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The Nintendo Switch 2 release is scheduled for October 3, 2025.
