If you’ve spent hours grinding for legendary loot with friends on different consoles in past Borderlands games, you’re probably asking will Borderlands 4 be cross platform when it finally drops. Gearbox has stayed pretty tight-lipped about official launch details so far, but we can pull from past franchise patterns, recent industry trends, and official teases to paint a clear picture of what to expect for crossplay support. As someone who’s played every Borderlands title co-op with friends split between PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, I know how frustrating it is to get locked out of sessions just because you own a different system. That’s why we’ve compiled every confirmed and rumored detail about cross-platform functionality for the next entry in the looter-shooter franchise.
Will Borderlands 4 Be Cross Platform at Launch?
The short answer right now is almost certainly yes, based on everything we know about Gearbox’s recent development priorities. Borderlands 3 infamously launched without crossplay support, and the feature took nearly two years to roll out fully across all platforms after initial PlayStation-related restrictions delayed its release. The studio learned from that feedback, though, and its next big franchise release, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, launched with full cross-platform play and cross-save support across all systems from day one.
Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has previously stated that cross-platform play is a core priority for all future franchise releases, so there’s very little chance the studio will backtrack on that promise for Borderlands 4. The gaming industry as a whole has also embraced crossplay as a standard feature for big-budget multiplayer-focused titles in the last few years, so skipping the feature would be a massive disappointment for most fans.
Full crossplay support at launch is far more likely than a post-launch rollout, too. Gearbox already has existing crossplay infrastructure built out from its past two releases, so it won’t have to build the feature from scratch for Borderlands 4. The only possible delay would come from last-minute platform-specific agreements, but those are rare for major first-party console makers now that crossplay restrictions have been almost entirely lifted across the industry.
What Cross-Platform Features Can We Expect for Borderlands 4?
Cross-platform play won’t just let you join lobbies with friends on other systems, either. Based on past Gearbox releases, we can expect a full suite of cross-platform features designed to make playing with friends as seamless as possible, no matter what system they own. Most of these features were already present in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, so it’s safe to assume they’ll carry over to the next mainline Borderlands entry.
First and foremost, you can expect cross-play support across all major platforms the game launches on, including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC. If Borderlands 4 gets a Nintendo Switch port, that system will almost certainly be included in crossplay support too, just like it was for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. You won’t have to worry about being locked out of sessions with friends just because they own a different generation of console, either, as past crossplay support has worked across both current and last-gen systems.
Cross-save support is very likely to be included alongside crossplay, which means you’ll be able to carry your character progress, unlocked loot, and cosmetic items across all platforms you own the game on. That’s a huge deal if you play on both console and PC, or if you plan to switch console systems at any point after the game launches. You’ll also be able to send cross-platform friend invites and join lobbies directly through the game’s menu, no third-party apps or workarounds required, thanks to Gearbox’s existing SHiFT account system.
You’ll also almost certainly have the option to disable crossplay entirely if you prefer to only play with other users on your same platform. While Borderlands is almost entirely PvE, some players prefer to avoid potential input disparities between mouse and keyboard PC players and controller console players, so the toggle will be there for anyone who wants to use it.
Potential Limitations to Cross-Platform Play for Borderlands 4
While crossplay is almost a sure thing, there are a few possible restrictions you should keep in mind before you plan your cross-platform loot grind with friends. Some of these are based on past franchise practices, and others are common across most modern cross-platform games:
- Platform-specific exclusive content may not be accessible across systems: If Sony or Microsoft strike deals for exclusive skins, weapons, or side content for Borderlands 4, you won't be able to access that content if you switch to a different platform, even if you have cross-save enabled. The content will stay tied to the platform it was released for.
- PC and console cross-play may have optional input-based matchmaking: To avoid controller players being at a disadvantage against mouse and keyboard users, Gearbox may add an option to only match with players using the same input type, even if crossplay is enabled. This will be entirely optional, though, so you can turn it off if you don't care about input differences.
- Cross-play may not be available for custom modded PC servers: If you play on PC with mods enabled, you'll likely only be able to join other modded PC servers, not vanilla console or PC lobbies. This is standard for most games with mod support, to prevent modded content from breaking the game for vanilla players.
- Region locks may apply for certain multiplayer modes: While PvE co-op will almost certainly be region-free, any potential PvP modes may have regional matchmaking limits to reduce lag and ensure smoother gameplay for all players in the lobby.
None of these limitations are confirmed yet, but they're standard for most cross-platform looter shooters on the market right now, so it's good to be prepared for them. You also don't need to worry about needing a separate account to play with friends across platforms, as Gearbox's SHiFT account system already works across all platforms for past titles, so it will almost certainly be used to link cross-platform friends lists for Borderlands 4.
If you're worried about any of these restrictions impacting your playthrough, you can always keep an eye on official Gearbox announcements closer to launch, as the studio will likely share full details about crossplay functionality well before the game is released.
How to Prepare for Cross-Platform Play Before Borderlands 4 Launches
There are a few simple steps you can take right now to make sure you're ready to jump into cross-platform co-op as soon as Borderlands 4 launches, so you don't have to waste time setting things up while your friends are already grinding for legendary loot. Most of these steps take less than 10 minutes to complete, so they're well worth doing ahead of time.
First, if you don't already have a SHiFT account, make one now and link it to all the platforms you own Borderlands games on. You can create an account directly through Gearbox's website, and linking your platform accounts only takes a few clicks. This will ensure that all your accounts are already connected when Borderlands 4 launches, so you won't have to go through the setup process on launch day.
Make sure your friends know to link their SHiFT accounts too, so you can add each other to your in-game friends list before launch day. This will let you send invites and join each other's lobbies immediately, without having to exchange platform-specific usernames or wait for account verification.
If you're planning to play across multiple platforms, decide which platform you want to be your main one first, so you don't accidentally split your progress before cross-save is confirmed. While cross-save is extremely likely, it's better to stick to one platform for your first playthrough if you want to avoid any potential bugs or issues that might pop up with the feature right after launch.
You can also follow official Gearbox social media accounts or sign up for their newsletter to get updates about crossplay functionality as soon as they're announced. The studio usually shares big feature details a few months before a game's launch, so you'll have plenty of time to adjust your plans if any unexpected crossplay restrictions are announced.
At the end of the day, all signs point to a yes when asking will Borderlands 4 be cross platform. Gearbox has put in the work to build crossplay functionality for all their recent releases, and there's no reason they'd skip that feature for one of their most anticipated franchise entries. You might run into a few small limitations depending on what platform you play on, but the core experience of playing co-op with friends no matter what system they own will almost certainly be available at launch or shortly after. Just make sure you have your SHiFT account set up ahead of time, and you'll be ready to jump into the next chaotic Borderlands adventure with all your friends as soon as the game drops.