Borderlands 4 has a Day One patch that will introduce a lot of the content to the game. This patch will smooth out various technical rough edges and improve the overall experience, especially for PC users.
Luckily, there’s a lot of information on what the Day One patch will bring. You just have to make sure that you’re ready for it when it comes.
Everything Coming in the Borderlands 4 Day One Patch
To address these points, Gearbox development chief Randy Pitchford has confirmed a substantial Day One patch poised to deliver significant improvements and optimizations, making it a crucial component for players looking to dive into the latest installment of the co-op looter shooter.
A primary focus of the Day One patch is the optimization of PC performance, targeting common issues such as stuttering, freezing, and crashes that some previewers experienced. Pitchford stated that the patch “does a lot” to tackle these problems, directly responding to concerns about the game’s stability. Furthermore, he clarified that with the Day One patch, 2K’s quality assurance teams have been able to achieve an average of 60 frames per second on minimum-spec PCs running at typically medium settings.
This suggests a notable improvement in frame rate stability, making the game more accessible to those who meet the baseline hardware requirements. The patch will also likely reinforce the necessity of solid-state drive (SSD) storage, as the game’s “big, bold, new, seamless world” design, utilizing Unreal Engine 5, eschews traditional loading screens, making fast data access paramount to prevent hitching and improve load times.
Despite these significant optimizations, Pitchford has been keen to manage player expectations, particularly for those with older or lower-end hardware. He explicitly stated that using a machine “below min-spec” should realistically lead to the game being “unplayable,” and even running it at 55 to 60 frames per second during heavy combat on such systems would be “a miracle.”
This stern warning underscores that while the patch will enhance performance, it cannot fundamentally overcome severe hardware limitations. The game’s reliance on an 8-core CPU and a substantial amount of VRAM (8 GB minimum, 12+ GB recommended) remains a high barrier for many PC gamers, with Steam’s hardware survey indicating that over half of its user base may not meet the 8-core CPU requirement.
What Will the Day One Patch Fix?
The day one patch for Borderlands 4 isn’t what we expected when we saw it at Summer Games Fest, but it’s fixing a bunch of performance and optimization issues to make sure the launch goes smoothly, especially for PC players. Pitchford specifically mentioned that 2K’s QA teams were able to hit an average of 60 frames per second on minimum-spec PCs with medium settings after the patch.
The patch will also likely improve how the game uses storage, especially since an SSD is required. Given that Borderlands 4 has a “seamless open world” and no loading screens, it’s super important that data streams efficiently. The day one update is supposed to optimize this to reduce hitching and improve load times, which will help with that whole seamless experience that Unreal Engine 5 is supposed to deliver.
Why There Is a Day One Patch
Day One patches fix a lot of issues with video games. In this case, the Day One patch fixes a lot of issues with Borderlands 4‘s chaotic, action-packed nature, with dozens of enemies frequently on screen, only adds to the CPU and GPU workout.
Randy Pitchford clarified that 2K’s quality assurance teams were able to achieve an average of 60 frames per second on minimum-spec PCs using medium settings. This is only after the Day One patch was applied, underscoring its critical role in reaching that baseline performance.
The patch is also expected to optimize for the compulsory SSD storage requirement, as the difference between an HDD and SSD can seriously impact hitching and load times in such an expansive, continuous world. Ultimately, the Day One patch is a vital final pass, allowing Gearbox to implement last-minute refinements and ensure a broader range of systems can deliver a more stable and enjoyable experience from launch, living up to the high expectations set by the game’s advanced engine and seamless design.
How to Download the Day One Patch for Borderlands 4
The Day One patch will have a standard download process for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch 2. All you have to do is wait for it to come online, and it will be downloaded before the game starts.
For PC players grabbing the game on Steam or the Epic Games Store, the Day One patch will likely just download and install on its own. When you first fire up Borderlands 4, your game client (Steam or Epic) will see the update and start the download. Just make sure you have a solid internet connection and enough disk space, since Pitchford mentioned the patch “does a lot,” and the game itself needs 100 GB of SSD storage.
This first download is super important for PC, especially with a game on Unreal Engine 5 that has a huge open world, which is tough on your CPU and storage. Console players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and eventually the Switch 2 (out October 3), will have a similar hands-off experience.
When you pop in the disc or start the digital game, your console will connect to its online service (PSN, Xbox Live, Nintendo eShop) and check for updates. It’ll spot the Day One patch and ask you to download and install it before you can play.
It’s a good idea to set your console to download updates automatically so you don’t have to wait on launch day. No matter what you’re playing on, just make sure you’re connected to the internet and have enough storage, and you’ll be able to jump right into Borderlands 4 with all the launch-day fixes.
