Borderlands 4 split-screen performance isn't the greatest, but there is a way to make it more tolerable. Borderlands 3 split-screen co-op was riddled with issues, and so I went into Borderlands 4 expecting similar problems. Unfortunately, I was right to be concerned, as Borderlands 4 split-screen suffers from performance issues like lag and general sluggishness. However, there are ways to make it better.
Now, I want to make it clear that I am happy that Borderlands 4 has split-screen at all and would rather have janky split-screen than the game be online co-op only. It's also very impressive that Gearbox was able to get split-screen working in a game that has such massive, open zones that don't really tether the players together at all. Still, it is hard not to be disappointed that Borderlands 4 split-screen co-op has performance issues, and so I quickly went searching for potential solutions.
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Gearbox Software takes a 'back to basics' approach with Borderlands 4 that ends up being exactly what the series needed.
My search led me to a Reddit thread by MacFit where they suggested switching the game to Local mode. After running some tests, it does appear as though switching Borderlands 4 to Local Only mode makes split-screen run better. It's still not perfect by any means, but it's noticeably smoother, at least in my experience. Switching Borderlands 4 to Local is simple enough and can be done in the main menu or in-game. All players need to do is navigate to Session Settings in the main menu or pause menu, click the dropdown menu next to Party Privacy, and then change it to Local Only. Again, this doesn't magically fix all the Borderlands 4 split-screen issues — expect to still have audio cut out whenever someone opens a menu — but it does seem to make enough of a difference to be noticeable.
How to Make Borderlands 4 Split-Screen Better
- Navigate to Session Settings
- Change Party Privacy to Local Only
There is one big downside to this, and that's the fact that it means playing Borderlands 4 offline. In turn, this eliminates the ability to play Borderlands 4 online with friends, but for those who are only concerned about 2-player split-screen, it's definitely worth doing. It's possible that Gearbox will release multiple updates for Borderlands 4 over the course of the game's life that will improve the split-screen experience without the need to switch to Local Only, but time will tell.
Borderlands 3's split-screen problems took quite a while to get properly fixed, and so fans shouldn't hold their breath for a fix to come soon. There are more pressing issues that will likely be prioritized since most fans are playing online anyway, but split-screen players will definitely want to keep an eye on update patch notes as they come in.
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
