Playing Borderlands 4 early is on everyone’s mind as the launch day approaches. The idea of jumping into the new chaos, guns, and loot ahead of most players is tempting, but the process isn’t as straightforward as a simple pre-order.
Understanding the regional differences, console tricks, and global release timing is essential if you want to get in a few hours before your friends. Knowing what’s possible and what isn’t will save you from frustration and help plan your first steps on Kairos.
How to Access Borderlands 4 Before Release
The New Zealand release window has become a common method for early access on console. For Xbox players, it’s relatively simple: you adjust your console’s location settings to New Zealand, restart the system, and you’ll be able to launch Borderlands 4 when it goes live there which is hours before your local midnight release.
PS5 users can also leverage this, but it’s more complicated. You’ll need a New Zealand PSN account and purchase the game in that region. Be careful, though, as save data may not transfer back to your main account, meaning progress could be isolated.
PC players, unfortunately, don’t have a New Zealand workaround. The Steam release is tied to a global schedule, so everyone will start at the same time. While this ensures no one gets an advantage, it also means there’s no way to jump in early unless the release timing in your time zone happens to be convenient.
Can You Play Borderlands 4 With Early Access?
Despite some games offering early-access perks for pre-orders or deluxe editions, Borderlands 4 doesn’t include this option. Neither the Deluxe nor the Super Deluxe Editions grant early gameplay.
Instead, the game has a staggered global release, which means it launches at midnight local time in different regions (excluding Steam). This staggered approach creates the illusion of early access for some players depending on their location but doesn’t officially open the doors ahead of release for everyone.
Instead, the game has a staggered global release, which means it launches at midnight local time in different regions (excluding Steam). A day-one patch will also be applied upon launch, so players should expect the latest updates as soon as they start. This staggered approach creates the illusion of early access for some players depending on their location but doesn’t officially open the doors ahead of release for everyone.
Is There Preloading for Borderlands 4?
Currently, Steam pre-loading isn’t available. As of the latest check, PC players cannot download the game ahead of time to get in the moment it launches. This can be frustrating for those with slower internet, as they’ll need to wait for the full download before starting.
Console players may also experience download timing differences depending on region, but the New Zealand trick can mitigate this. Essentially, the staggered local release of Borderlands 4 for consoles allows some early start, while PC players remain locked to the global launch schedule.
