Some Borderlands 4 players are asking for slot machines to be added to the game. The argument for their return revolves around the perception that money doesn't serve much purpose in Borderlands 4.
The latest mainline entry in Gearbox's hit looter shooter franchise was released five days ago, on September 12. As of today, it's been out for long enough that some players have already spent extensive time with it, having already rolled the credits in Borderlands 4. Online discussion about the game's strengths and weaknesses has been thriving as a result.
Borderlands 4 Will Be Missing Some Features at Launch
Gearbox reveals that Borderlands 4 will be missing some important features at launch.
Borderlands 4 Want Slot Machines Back Because Money Feels Worthless
Continuing this trend, some fans have recently banded together to call for Gearbox to bring back slot machines. The argument for their return comes down to one thing: money in Borderlands 4 feels worthless. "Not only were they a good money sink for rolling legendaries, but also just a fun thing to do while waiting for a friend," explains one highly upvoted recent post from Reddit user Cadwae. The fan acknowledged that some players might not be too thrilled to see any form of gambling return, proposing that Gearbox could instead offer another use for money as an alternative.
A vocal section of fans chiming in on the ensuing discussion rejected the very notion that gambling is out of place in a game like Borderlands 4. "Were people actually worried about gambling fake money in a mature game where I'm literally running around, blowing everything's head off?" Asked Reddit user Blueboykc. In place of slot machines, Borderlands 4 leans on systems like Maurice's Black Market vending machine selling Legendaries for money, as well as the new respec machine that allows players to change their builds in exchange for a percentage of their cash holdings.
Money in Borderlands 4 is also used for respawning named enemies or bosses using Moxxi's Big Encore Machine, which significantly facilitates farming. Although its fees grow over time, they never become substantial enough for this system to constitute a real money sink that some Borderlands 4 players are asking for right now.
Were people actually worried about gambling fake money in a mature game where I'm literally running around, blowing everything's head off?
The pro-gambling argument, at its core, isn't an entirely novel idea. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands players have also been asking for it to add slot machines since the spin-off launched without them in March 2022. Those requests had no effect, suggesting that the latest appeals are unlikely to bring change either. To date, slot machines have been featured in Borderlands 2, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and Borderlands 3, in that order. While their return in Borderlands 4 may appear unlikely, that's not to say there's no chance of the looter shooter eventually including more money sinks, whether in the form of DLC or as part of free updates.
Borderlands 4
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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
