- Borderlands 4 requires a minimum of an 8-core CPU to run the game.
- 50% of the Steam users have a processor with fewer core counts, making them unable to play the game.
- Moreover, Borderlands 4 comes equipped with two DRM systems, further raising questions about the game’s performance.
Gearbox Software has been under fire for the upcoming Borderlands 4, and as of yet, their rollout has been full of bumps.
After the game director’s comments suggested a $80 price tag, the title was dialled back to a $70 price, which was announced alongside system requirements, and a September 12 release for later this year.
Now, a hardware survey from Steam shows that 50% of their players aren’t meeting even the minimum requirements for the upcoming shooter.
Why it matters: Video games have been getting incredibly demanding over the past few years. Borderlands 4 is digging a grave for itself with the direction it’s headed with these requirements.
Borderlands 4 currently has a minimum requirement for an 8-core CPU on its Steam page. For the recommended hardware, an 8+ CPU Core or higher is required.
The latest Steam hardware survey also shows that 50.42% of users have a six-core CPU or lower. This renders half of the user base unable to play the upcoming release.
From our list of best budget CPUs, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is considered the best entry-level processor, costing a little under $200. However, even though that CPU has six cores, the costs for a higher-core processor increase tremendously for a budget PC.
To further add fuel to the fire, Borderlands 4 will also come loaded with Denuvo and Symbiote DRMs to protect from piracy. The implementation of these DRMs is likely the reason for the high CPU requirement.
Denuvo already has a bad reputation in the gaming industry for being too performance-heavy, and we’ve yet to see the downgrades of Symbiote; however, from the sounds of it, it isn’t looking great for the performance side.
Built on Unreal Engine 5, Gearbox Software also faces the challenge of making the open-world experience smooth, which is especially notable where the engine is notorious for its shortcomings.
What are your thoughts on Borderlands 4 so far? Will you buy the game regardless of these issues when it releases later this year? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheer@tech4gamers.com