So, Borderlands 4 is here. Big deal, right? Huge launch. Massive hype. But here's the thing: the PC launch wasn't exactly smooth sailing. Players were hitting snags left and right. Constant crashes? You betcha. Animation glitches? Affirmative. It wasn't pretty.
Gearbox has finally responded with a PC patch aimed at addressing these issues. A much-needed fix, it seems. What exactly does this patch bring to the table? Let's break it down.
The Crash Fixes: Diving Deep
The core of the patch focuses on stability, specifically targeting:
- Animation States: Crashes linked to specific character animations? Addressed. This is critical since animation errors can tank performance.
- Audio: Audio glitches causing crashes? Fixed. Seems like a basic requirement, but hey, better late than never.
- Collision Checks: Apparently, the game's collision detection was a bit wonky, leading to crashes. This is now supposedly sorted.
- GPU-related Issues: "Various" GPU crashes. What does "various" mean? We don’t know. Still, let’s be optimistic.
The big question is: does it actually work? Early reports are mixed. Some players are seeing massive improvements. Others? Not so much. Your mileage may vary, depending on your system configuration. PC gaming, am I right?
Gilded Glory Gone Wrong
Remember that fancy Gilded Glory pre-order pack? It seems it was causing some headaches too. The Reward Center was having issues recognizing claimed rewards. This is a big deal, especially for those who shelled out extra cash for the pre-order bonuses. No one likes missing out on their digital goodies.
The patch aims to fix this. Plus, the Gilded Glory guns will no longer appear in standard chests. No more unwanted loot polluting the drop pools!
Console Crew: Your Turn is Coming
Console gamers, don't fret! The Gilded Glory fix is slated to hit consoles "in the coming days." That's corporate speak for "soon-ish." Expect it to roll out after the verification process, usually a few days or a week behind PC. I would guess we'll see it land by the end of next week, but that’s my personal estimate. It's a wait, but at least it's coming.
Randy Pitchford's Defense
So, what's Gearbox's stance on all this? Randy Pitchford has been actively engaging with the community on social media, defending the game's performance. He argues that Borderlands 4 was never designed as a hyper-competitive, high-frame-rate shooter. Valid point? Maybe. But it doesn’t excuse a buggy launch.
Essentially, he's saying that chasing the highest possible frame rate requires graphical compromises. It's a trade-off. The game prioritizes visual fidelity over twitch-shooter responsiveness. But, let's be honest, a stable framerate should always be the baseline.
Weekly Updates: What to Expect
Borderlands 4 is also embracing weekly updates to keep things fresh. Here’s what you need to know:
- Weekly Big Encore Boss: A souped-up version of an existing boss with better loot. Sounds promising for farming.
- Weekly Wildcard Missions: Missions with added challenges and guaranteed Legendary drops. Perfect for chasing that god-roll weapon.
- Maurice's Black Market Vending Machine: This elusive vending machine moves to a new location each week, offering unique items. Happy hunting! Your loot varies from other players, so collaborate!
The Verdict? (For Now)
Is this patch a game-changer for Borderlands 4 on PC? It's too early to say definitively. The fixes address critical stability issues and annoying reward glitches. But performance optimization is an ongoing process. Keep those drivers updated. Tweak those settings. And hope for the best.
It’s a step in the right direction, but Gearbox has more work to do. The community is vocal, the expectations are high, and the pressure is on. Only time will tell if Borderlands 4 can reach its full potential on PC.
We are continuing to test Borderlands 4, so expect more coverage incoming!
