Amidst concerns about PC performance, Randy Pitchford describes Borderlands 4 as "pretty damn optimal"

Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Software, has described the performance of Borderlands 4 on PC as "pretty damn optimal" following criticism about its optimization. In a series of posts on X, dated September 15, 2025, Pitchford emphasized that PC gamers need to acknowledge the relationship between their hardware and the game's software.

Pitchford stated, "We've developed a massive and entertaining looter shooter campaign game. The game's performance is quite efficient, meaning the processes are running as intended without unnecessary cycles." He added that players have numerous options to adjust settings like FPS, resolution, and rendering features to suit their preferences.

According to Pitchford, it is entirely reasonable for developers to aim for default settings that deliver 30fps on minimum specs and 60fps on recommended specs. He noted, "Expecting PCs at the lower limits of specs to achieve ultra features along with high frame rates and resolutions is unrealistic."

He further commented, "If my previous statement causes negative feelings, it might be due to unmet expectations. I apologize, but please understand that some compromises might be necessary between FPS, features, and resolution." Pitchford asserted that Borderlands 4 only has a few significant issues, impacting a very minor segment of users, and stated that work is ongoing to address these concerns.

He suggested players should consider altering their settings instead of waiting for updates, recommending adjustments such as lowering resolution and using Nvidia's DLSS technology to enhance visual quality. Despite these recommendations, numerous players have shared their struggles with PC performance, most notably unstable frame rates even at lower settings.

Digital Foundry, which analyzed the game's PC performance on high-end systems, pointed out ongoing issues such as stuttering, 30 fps cutscenes, and frame rate dips. Since its debut on September 11, 2025, Borderlands 4 has received several negative reviews on Steam, highlighting performance and optimization issues, which have contributed to its Mixed rating overall.

Nevertheless, Borderlands 4 has achieved over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam, a milestone that places it ahead of popular titles like Skyrim, Halo Infinite, and Rust in terms of all-time most-played games on the platform.