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- Borderlands 4 will feature two types of DRM systems: Denuvo and Symbiote, designed to prevent piracy.
- The use of Denuvo is not new for the series, but including a second DRM, Symbiote, has worried some players.
- Neither the developer, Gearbox, nor the publisher, 2K, has commented on the DRM implementation.
The pre-order pages list that Borderlands 4 comes packed with Denuvo and Symbiote DRM, confirming Gearbox’s plan to protect the game from piracy at launch. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as Borderlands 3 also shipped with Denuvo at launch.
However, it’s the addition of another DRM, Symbiote, alongside Denuvo, that’s concerning for most players.
Why it matters: DRM in video games is always a hot topic, especially Denuvo. Gamers often worry that it can cause lag, FPS drops, or even shorten SSD life.
Borderlands 4 is also using a newer and less familiar type of game protection called Symbiote DRM. Some people believe that, unlike Denuvo, it works at the computer’s kernel level, which has some players concerned.
Players are concerned that it might cause problems with other programs, slow down the system in the background, or even create security and privacy risks.
The name “Symbiote” itself has caused alarm, as it is shared with a known Linux rootkit. However, it’s worth noting that the name may simply be an internal branding term for a proprietary 2K DRM, with the shared name being a coincidence.
On the other hand, Denuvo’s impact varies. Tests of games like Hogwarts Legacy and Dragon’s Dogma 2 have shown real drops in frame rates and longer load times. However, Stellar Blade shows little to no performance impact, all while utilizing Denuvo.
Neither Gearbox Software nor publisher 2K has released a statement to clarify the nature of both DRMs. However, fans are criticizing this decision. Last time fans criticized the game, Gearbox responded by saying, “don’t take our passion for granted.”
Even with some adverse reactions, Borderlands 4 pre-orders appear to be doing well. The game comes out on September 12, 2025, with versions priced from $69.99 for the Standard Edition to $129.99 for the Super Deluxe Edition.
But if the game has performance problems at launch, Gearbox might run into the same trouble they had with Borderlands 3 on PC—when players blamed Denuvo for lag and it wasn’t removed until months later.
Are you concerned about Borderlands 4 shipping with multiple DRMs? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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