With several years having passed since the release of Borderlands 3, it’s hardly a surprise that Borderlands 4 is significantly different from its predecessor. Each of the Borderlands games has offered major shake-ups, with the second game delivering a stronger narrative alongside more environmental variety, and the third game featuring deeper Vault Hunter skill trees, smoother gunplay, and multiple planets to explore. In the case of Borderlands 4, players are returning to a single planet called Kairos, but they will be exploring it in depth via multiple open-world-like zones. These massive areas likely wouldn’t have been possible without the shift from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5, though it is this very shakeup that could be problematic.
Perhaps the biggest fear that gamers could have about Borderlands 4’s usage of Unreal Engine 5 is that it will result in an unpolished product that takes multiple patches to clean up, as games like The Lords of the Fallen, Immortals of Aveum, and even Fortnite have struggled with performance problems and glitchiness due to their usage of Unreal Engine 5. It is impossible to say for sure how the full version of the game will feel until it releases, as Borderlands 4 previews only got a limited time with the looter-shooter. However, while the jury is still out on how Unreal Engine 5 and Borderlands 4 mesh from a gameplay perspective, from a graphical standpoint, the existing footage paints a picture that might just be a bit too pretty.
Borderlands 4 Hands-On Preview: Less Borders, More Lands
The Best War Games went hands-on with Borderlands 4, and even a short time with its world and systems reveals how much the series is shifting its focus.
Borderlands 4’s Unreal Engine 5’s Benefits Are Clear, But So Is One Problem
Gearbox has been quick to celebrate Unreal Engine 5 as a gateway to fresh opportunities for Borderlands 4, and it’s easy to grasp why. Tech demos like The Witcher 4’s tech showcase have wowed gamers due to their graphical fidelity, while the accessibility of the engine allows indie developers to craft their own stunning games more easily. In the case of Borderlands 4, Unreal Engine 5 allows for larger play areas and limited loading times, with fast travel stated to only take eight seconds. Physics-driven character and environment detail also add a sense of realism, with a Creative Bloq interview providing the promise that “every blade of grass and every leaf in every tree is modeled… in high detail.” As expected, a Borderlands game built in Unreal Engine 5 is visually impressive, but an argument can be made that Gearbox may have gone too far.
With various Borderlands content creators getting an opportunity to share gameplay of their early access Borderlands 4 sessions, it’s possible to see this detailed world that Gearbox has been talking about in action. While it certainly looks good, it arguably looks a bit too much like a traditional “good-looking” video game made in Unreal Engine 5, only with a cel-shaded filter placed overtop. The grittiness that Borderlands has always been known for just doesn’t seem to be there as of now, as the characters look so clean and polished that the series’ wasteland vibe has almost faded completely. Additionally, the game’s usage of color looks to be more muted and less distinct, which could cause enemies to blend into the world. When combined with the seemingly toned-down outlines, the art style feels like a slight step away from the series’ traditional look.
As with every game in the Borderlands series, Borderlands 4 has a distinct HUD, and this too adds to the feeling that the new game is going in a different direction. Specifically, the new HUD feels more clean and sci-fi than all the others in the series.
For Better or Worse, Borderlands 4’s New Look is Thematically Appropriate
Though there may be mixed opinions on this visual overhaul, it does suit the vibe Borderlands 4 is going for. In the aforementioned Creative Bloq interview, Gearbox’s Executive Producer and Lead Writer talked about how Kairos is not at all like the Wild West of Pandora, as it’s a world altered by a dictatorship. The game’s environments reflect this shift, and it would make sense for the rest of the visuals to do the same, regardless of whether fans are happy with the change. After all, if players are exploring a setting that houses less psychos and outlaws, it would make sense for the graphics to move away from the grittiness that was so closely associated with Pandora - even if it does feel a bit off.
While Borderlands 3 was a big step up from Borderlands 2 visually, it very much still looked like a Borderlands game, both in its character design and in its various planets. Borderlands 4 may feel a bit too polished, futuristic, and sanitized for those who preferred what came before, but if the open-world elements stick the landing and the game runs well, Unreal Engine 5 will have done the series more harm than good. Perhaps the aesthetic will even grow on those who are a bit taken aback by Kairos and its characters, as it can be hard to adapt to change when Borderlands players have grown used to the same look for six years. Perhaps all that will be needed is time, though for now, Borderlands 4 losing a bit of that loudness and edginess from an artistic standpoint feels like the first drawback of using Unreal Engine 5.
Borderlands 4
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
