Summary

  • Borderlands 3 player count surged with the release of the critically panned movie adaptation.
  • Increased players may not be directly linked to movie viewers, but likely from increased general franchise visibility and huge sale on the game.
  • Gearbox CEO teases Borderlands 4 release, potentially to outweigh negative movie reception.

Borderlands 3 is experiencing a massive player count boost at the moment, following the release of the controversial movie adaptation. Despite being released almost five years ago now, looter-shooter Borderlands 3 retains a respectably sized community on Steam.

The Borderlands franchise is receiving a lot of attention at the moment, but maybe not the type it desires. Critical reception of the new Borderlands movie is nothing short of disastrous, with the film holding a 10% Rotten Tomatoes score at the moment. For many non-gamers, this will be their first exposure to Borderlands, so it may not necessarily be the best first impression. Despite this, it hasn't stopped the numbers of the most recent mainline title in the videogame series, Borderlands 3, from surging.

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According to numbers found on SteamDB, Borderlands 3 has experienced a massive boost in players over the last couple of days, coinciding with the release of the critically panned movie adaptation. Prior to the movie's release date, Borderlands 3 was averaging anywhere between 2,000 to 4,000 players on a good day. However, this number has slowly been growing in the days since, and it now boasts a 24-hour peak of 12,379. This won't help Borderlands 3 make it onto the list of the most played Steam games anytime soon, but it's still a considerable increase over previous numbers.

Borderlands 3 Sees Huge Player Count Spike on Steam

Given the extremely low box office numbers for the Borderlands movie, it's unlikely that the increased player count is a direct result of gamers seeing the movie and then choosing to hop into the game. However, the exposure surrounding the movie's release has certainly helped get the series' name into the public eye, and it could simply be reminding fans that the franchise exists. The fact that Borderlands 3 is currently 90% off on Steam, bringing it down to just $5.99, is sure to help matters too. As a matter of fact, the entire Borderlands franchise (minus Tiny Tina's Wonderlands) can also be found at 94% off as part of the Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box.

Given the reception of the Borderlands movie, the franchise will likely want to forget about it as fast as possible. In the wake of its release, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has teased Borderlands 4, which is sure to placate fans of the franchise who were less than happy with the film adaptation. It's good to finally get confirmation that a new mainline release is on the way, giving fans something to look forward to once more.

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Borderlands 3 Tag Page Cover Art
8 /10

Borderlands 3
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First-Person Shooter
Action
RPG
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
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Released
September 13, 2019
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Publisher(s)
2K Games
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and an all-new mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four brand new Vault Hunters – the ultimate treasure-seeking badasses of the Borderlands, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization. Play solo or join with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy.
A MAYHEM-FUELED THRILL RIDE
Stop the fanatical Calypso Twins from uniting the bandit clans and claiming the galaxy’s ultimate power. Only you, a thrill-seeking Vault Hunter, have the arsenal and allies to take them down.
YOUR VAULT HUNTER, YOUR PLAYSTYLE
Become one of four extraordinary Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities, playstyles, deep skill trees, and tons of personalization options. All Vault Hunters are capable of awesome mayhem alone, but together they are unstoppable.
LOCK, LOAD, AND LOOT
With bazillions of guns and gadgets, every fight is an opportunity to score new gear. Firearms with self-propelling bullet shields? Check. Rifles that spawn fire-spewing volcanoes? Obviously. Guns that grow legs and chase down enemies while hurling verbal insults? Yeah, got that too.
NEW BORDERLANDS
Discover new worlds beyond Pandora, each featuring unique environments to explore and enemies to destroy. Tear through hostile deserts, battle your way across war-torn cityscapes, navigate deadly bayous, and more! QUICK & SEAMLESS CO-OP ACTION
Play with anyone at any time online or in split-screen co-op, regardless of your level or mission progress. Take down enemies and challenges as a team, but reap rewards that are yours alone – no one misses out on loot.

Cross Save
yes
Franchise
Borderlands
Number of Players
1-4
Split Screen Orientation
Vertical or Horizontal
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter, Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
25 Hours
PS Plus Availability
N/A
Local Co-Op Support
1-4 Players