As Borderlands 4 gears up for its September 12th release, PC players who anticipated diving into the mayhem with mid-range rigs may need to revisit their setups—Gearbox’s newly revealed system requirements are nothing short of formidable.
For starters, the minimum configuration reads more like a high-end baseline: you’ll need an eight-core CPU—such as an Intel i7-9700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X—along with 16 GB of system RAM. But that’s not all—your graphics card must be at least an NVIDIA RTX 2070 or AMD RX 5700 XT, each with 8 GB of VRAM. A 100 GB SSD isn’t just recommended; it’s mandatory. In short, players will need serious muscle just to launch the mayhem-filled world of Borderlands 4.
And that’s merely the starting point. For a smooth, visually rich experience, Gearbox advises a setup that reads like a beastly PC spec sheet: an eight-core Intel i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 5800X; a staggering 32 GB of RAM; and a graphics card to rival display dreams—RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT, packing 12 GB or more of VRAM. This rig is expected to drive gameplay at 1440p with stable framerates, though specifics like 60 FPS at ultra settings remain Gearbox’s subtle hint.
These specs have raised eyebrows across the PC gaming world. A recent hardware survey revealed that only one-third of current PC gamers meet the recommended requirements. That means a vast swath of players might face steep upgrades—or reduced settings—just to enjoy what Gearbox touts as this franchise’s most ambitious entry yet.
Unreal Engine 5, with its seamless open-world design and advanced visual fidelity, underpins much of this demand. But Gearbox’s president candidly warns there’s little that can be done to lower the bar: crossing the threshold without meeting minimum specs? That, he says, would be nothing short of miraculous. Even with a Day‑One patch poised to optimize performance, older or less powerful systems likely won’t get the buttery smooth experience Borderlands 4 seems designed around.
The community’s reaction has been swift. Many are baffled by the requirements, pointing out that the game’s stylized art style doesn’t immediately suggest such heavy demands. Others balk at the eight-core CPU minimum—even for baseline play—as well as the need for massive VRAM just for the recommended tier.
With its bold visuals, high-speed environments, and looter-shooter chaos, Borderlands 4 is architected for modern hardware—but that architecture might leave a good portion of fans eager but under-equipped. As September 12th draws closer, the devs are urging players to check specs early—or risk being left behind in Pandora’s explosive return.
