After years of teases and leaks, Borderlands 4 is finally on the horizon, and fans everywhere are gearing up to jump back into the chaotic, loot-filled world of Pandora. Whether you’re a long-time vault hunter who’s put hundreds of hours into previous installments, or a new player curious about the series’ signature blend of over-the-top comedy and co-op action, there’s one thing almost everyone has in common: no one wants to pay full price if they don’t have to. Finding a legitimate Borderlands 4 discount doesn’t require digging through sketchy websites or jumping through endless hoops, either. We’ve spent years tracking game sales and discount patterns for the Borderlands franchise, and we’ve rounded up all the legit, low-risk ways to save on your purchase, whether you plan to play day one or wait a few months for bugs to get ironed out.
Legitimate Ways to Score a Borderlands 4 Discount Across All Platforms
The first thing to know is that legitimate discounts are available even before the game launches, if you know where to look. Target Circle and Amazon Prime members regularly get 10% off all new game pre-orders, including Borderlands 4, with no extra fees. These discounts apply to both physical and digital copies, and you’ll still get all the pre-order bonuses like golden keys, exclusive character skins, and early access to the first mission DLC that come with full-price pre-orders. If you prefer digital copies, check your platform’s subscription perks first. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members get 20% off all major third-party game purchases from the Xbox Store, and PS Plus Premium members get similar exclusive discounts on PSN digital pre-orders and launch purchases.
PC players have even more options, too. Digital storefronts like Steam and Epic Games often run flash sales during major gaming events like Summer Game Fest or The Game Awards, and you can often stack these discounts with store credit you’ve earned from previous purchases or refunded games. If you’re a PC player who uses Epic Games, you can also wishlist the game to get notified as soon as a Borderlands 4 discount goes live, so you don’t miss the limited-time flash sales. Humble Bundle also regularly runs sales on AAA titles, including Borderlands games, with a portion of every purchase going to charity, so you can save money and support a good cause at the same time.
Physical retailers also run regular launch-week discounts, especially if you’re willing to pick up a copy in store. GameStop often offers trade-in bonuses that can cut 15-25% off your purchase if you trade in old games or consoles when you buy Borderlands 4, and Best Buy regularly runs launch-week deals that include free gift cards with new game purchases, which effectively works out to a discount if you shop at the retailer regularly. None of these options require you to use unvetted third-party sites, and all come with full buyer protection in case something goes wrong with your order.
Common Borderlands 4 Discount Scams to Avoid at All Costs
While there are plenty of legitimate ways to save, there are also just as many scams targeting excited fans who want the lowest possible price. We’ve seen dozens of these scams pop up around every major Borderlands release, and they almost always follow the same patterns. The most common scam is fake key listings on unvetted third-party marketplaces, where sellers offer 50-70% off the game months before release, only to send invalid keys or no keys at all after you pay. Most of these fake listings claim to have a pre-release Borderlands 4 discount that no other retailer has, which is a clear sign of a scam. Never share your Steam, Xbox, or PlayStation account credentials with any third-party seller, no matter how good the discount they’re offering sounds. Legitimate sellers never need access to your account to send you a game key or code.
There are a few clear red flags you can watch for to avoid these scams entirely:
- Discounts higher than 30% before the game has been out for at least 3 months
- Sites that ask you to download a separate launcher or provide your account login to claim the discount
- Listings on unvetted third-party marketplaces with no seller reviews or buyer protection
You should also avoid any links shared in random Discord servers or social media comments that claim to offer a free or heavily discounted copy of Borderlands 4. These are almost always phishing links designed to steal your account information or personal data, and you’ll never actually get a copy of the game if you click through. It’s always better to pay a little more and buy from a trusted source than to lose your money or access to your gaming account to a scam.
Extra Perks to Pair With Your Borderlands 4 Discount for Maximum Value
Getting a discount on the base game is great, but you can stretch your money even further by pairing that discount with extra perks that are often available for free or at a low cost. First, always check if the discounted purchase still qualifies for pre-order or launch bonuses, if you’re buying close to release. Most legitimate retailers offer the same bonuses for discounted pre-orders as they do for full-price ones, so you don’t have to miss out on golden keys, exclusive weapon skins, or early DLC access just because you saved money. If you own previous Borderlands titles on the same platform, you may qualify for an additional loyalty discount on top of existing sales. Gearbox has run these loyalty discounts for every Borderlands release since Borderlands 2, and they usually stack with other store discounts to cut an extra 5-10% off your purchase.
You can also sign up for the official Borderlands newsletter to get notified about exclusive Borderlands 4 discount offers for loyal fans before they go live to the general public. These offers often include exclusive cosmetic bundles that you can’t get anywhere else, along with early access to sales for the game’s DLC later down the line. If you plan to play the game for hundreds of hours and want access to all the post-launch DLC, consider buying the deluxe or special edition bundle when it’s on sale, rather than buying the base game and DLC separately later. Bundles are almost always 20-30% cheaper than buying all content individually, and if you get the bundle on sale, you can save even more. Some physical retailers also throw in free extra merch like posters, keychains, or collectible figurines with discounted pre-orders, so it’s worth checking a few different retailers to see which one offers the best combination of discount and extra perks before you buy.
When to Wait for a Bigger Borderlands 4 Discount If You Don't Mind Delaying Play
If you’re not in a rush to play the game day one, you can get a much bigger discount if you’re willing to wait a few months after launch. The first official sale for most major AAA games happens 4-6 weeks after release, usually around 20% off, and that discount applies to both physical and digital copies across all platforms. If you can wait until the first holiday season after launch, you’ll see even bigger discounts. Black Friday and Christmas sales almost always have Borderlands games for 30-40% off, and those sales often include the first post-launch DLC for free if you buy the base game.
The steepest legitimate discounts hit 12+ months after launch, often bundled with all released DLC for 50% off or more. Gearbox usually releases a Game of the Year or Complete Edition of every Borderlands game around 12-18 months after launch, which includes the base game, all season pass DLC, and all exclusive cosmetic content for less than the original price of the base game alone. I waited 9 months to buy Borderlands 3, and I got the base game plus the first two DLC packs for 45% off, and all the major launch bugs had already been patched by that point, so my first playthrough was way smoother than it would have been if I’d bought it day one. Waiting doesn’t work for everyone, especially if you have a group of friends who plan to play co-op on launch day, but if you’re happy to play solo or wait until your friend group is ready to jump in, you can save a huge amount of money without missing out on any content.
At the end of the day, saving money on your next vault hunting adventure doesn’t have to be complicated or risky. Whether you’re buying day one with a pre-order discount, or waiting a year for the complete edition to go on sale, there’s a legitimate Borderlands 4 discount available for every type of player. Just stick to trusted retailers, avoid any deals that look too good to be true, and don’t forget to check for subscription perks and loyalty discounts that can help you save even more. You don’t have to pay full price to enjoy all the chaotic loot, silly jokes, and co-op fun that Borderlands 4 has to offer.