Borderlands 4 was released on September 10, 2025, and the first day on PC showed just how strong the series still is. On Steam, the game peaked at more than 243,000 people playing at the same time during its opening 24 hours. That number already puts it well ahead of Borderlands 2, which once held the record with about 124,000 players online.
The interest was visible everywhere on Steam. Borderlands 4 quickly jumped to the top of the global sellers chart and stayed there throughout launch day. It wasn’t just curiosity either. Data shows tens of thousands remained in game for long sessions, moving through the campaign, testing new characters, and chasing loot drops. The first day made it clear that the community had been waiting for this entry.
Not everything about the launch was perfect. By the end of the first 24 hours, the overall Steam rating had settled at “Mixed.” Many players pointed out performance issues, with stuttering, frame drops, and a few crash reports surfacing. It’s a common sight for big PC releases, where the initial rush of players brings every technical flaw into focus. Still, the size of the launch shows that interest is strong despite these issues.
Looking back at older entries, the jump is significant. Borderlands 3 peaked just above 93,000 concurrent users, and The Pre-Sequel never crossed 70,000. Borderlands 4 more than doubled those peaks in a single day, proving that the franchise has not lost its pull even after more than a decade.
Gearbox hasn’t given a formal statement on the Steam numbers yet. In past interviews, Gearbox said Borderlands 4 was built to push the series ahead without losing its style. Whether that vision sticks will depend on how updates shape the game in the coming weeks. For now, the launch has strong momentum, but much will hinge on how players respond once the first patches roll out.
