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- Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4
A co-op loot shooter where Vault Hunters fight a planetary dictatorship and build their powers around changing weapons.
Online co-op for up to 4 players and split-screen co-op for 2 players, with crossplay.
- 4 online
- 2 split-screen
- Crossplay
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op4 players
- Local co-op2 playersSplit screen
- YesPC, PlayStation, XboxFriends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- YesA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckVerifiedValve's own rating
About the game
You play a Vault Hunter stranded on Kairos, a planet controlled by the Timekeeper. You take missions from resistance fighters, clear enemy camps and search for weapons that change how you fight. Between battles, you cross forests, mountains and deserts by hover bike, grapple and glider. Skill points and equipment let you keep reshaping your character as you level up.
Up to four players share the campaign online. On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, two can also play together in split screen. Level scaling lets different characters contribute, and each player chooses their own difficulty. You can wander apart and travel directly to a friend when you want to regroup. It suits a group that enjoys comparing gear, trying builds and returning for another round of loot after the story.
How it feels
Kind of game
A team takes on missions or runs full of enemies. You pick gear, cover each other and pick each other up.
- At its heart
- A big part
- Now and then
- Laughter and chaos
- Calm and coziness
- Working in sync
- Sessions
- Campaign to finish
- About
- Science fiction, Alien planets, Monsters
Rated on our own feel scale. 4 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked Borderlands 4
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
Borderlands 3
Why it scores 96%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Science fiction, Alien planets and Monsters
- Notable in both
- Story, Time to hang out, Exploring, Tension and danger, Planning ahead
- Core to both
- Unlocks and progress, Fighting
- Sessions
- Campaign to finish
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players and split-screen local co-op
- 4 online
- 4 split-screen
- Crossplay
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both are about science fiction and strange alien worlds. Both have a story you follow together.
No big difference from Borderlands 4.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Why it scores 95%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Science fiction and Alien planets
- Notable in both
- Story, Time to hang out, Jumping and climbing, Exploring, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better
- Core to both
- Unlocks and progress, Fighting
- Sessions
- Campaign to finish
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players and split-screen local co-op
- 4 online
- 4 split-screen
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both are easy to play while you chat. Both are about science fiction and strange alien worlds.
No big difference from Borderlands 4.
Borderlands 2
Why it scores 93%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Science fiction, Alien planets and Monsters
- Notable in both
- Story, Time to hang out, Exploring, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better
- Core to both
- Unlocks and progress, Fighting
- Sessions
- Campaign to finish
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players and split-screen local co-op
How Borderlands 2 differs
- Less jumping and climbing than Borderlands 4
- 4 online
- 4 split-screen
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both are about science fiction and strange alien worlds. Both have a story you follow together.
But less jumping and climbing than Borderlands 4.
All co-op facts
Last checked 24 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The checked computer full base game requires purchase. Its paid base offer includes the supported co-op activity. Demo, trial, guest and subscription alternatives are separate.
- 589
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Sources
11 pages
support.borderlands.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms.
- Platforms: Updated June 30, 2026. Lists Steam, Epic, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Switch 2 remains a future version.
support.borderlands.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Crossplay, Crossplay between, Local co-op, Split or shared screen.
- Crossplay: The support article confirms cross-platform sessions.
- Crossplay between: Names PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and Epic. The PC version is for Windows. Its Switch 2 wording is prospective because the current editions FAQ still says that version is coming.
- Local co-op: Confirms split screen on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Split or shared screen: Players can choose a horizontal or vertical split.
news.xbox.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online, Most players on one screen, Friends can join mid-game, Working in sync, Time to hang out, Calm and coziness, Crossplay.
- Online co-op: Gearbox producer describes native online parties.
- Most players online: The producer specifies up to four online.
- Most players on one screen: The producer specifies two on one Xbox Series device, including mixed local and online parties of four total.
- Friends can join mid-game: The producer explicitly confirms joining and leaving during online play.
- Working in sync: Individual difficulty, level scaling and direct travel to friends allow independent movement with occasional help.
- Time to hang out: The producer describes freely exploring and choosing short outings together.
- Calm and coziness: Travel and optional points of interest interrupt the battles.
- Crossplay: The Gearbox producer confirms full crossplay support and the SHiFT requirement.
ir.take2games.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Release date, Release status, Genres, About, Kind of game.
- Release date: The publisher launch release dated September 12, 2025 announces worldwide availability. Steam displays September 11, the publisher calendar date takes priority.
- Release status: The launch release announces availability for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
- Genres: The publisher calls it a looter shooter, supporting shooter.
- About: Kairos is an alien planet controlled through futuristic implants, synthetic soldiers and hostile creatures.
- Kind of game: A group combines weapons and character abilities against enemies.
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Most players online, Genres, Free base co-op.
- Most players online: Publisher text specifies four-player online co-op.
- Genres: The publisher description calls it a looter shooter and the publisher genre list includes RPG.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full base game requires purchase. Its paid base offer includes the supported co-op activity. Demo, trial, guest and subscription alternatives are separate.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID, Platforms.
- Steam app ID: Identifies Borderlands 4 as app 1285190.
- Platforms: The Steam build is Windows only.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Verified on Steam Deck.
store.playstation.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Most players online, Most players on one screen, Platforms, Free base co-op.
- Most players online: Lists up to four online players.
- Most players on one screen: Lists one to two players on PS5.
- Platforms: Offers the PS5 version.
- Free base co-op: The PS5 full Standard Edition requires purchase. The two-hour subscription trial is separate.
xbox.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Local co-op, Most players on one screen, Most players online, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: Lists Xbox Series X|S.
- Local co-op: Lists local co-op for two.
- Most players on one screen: Local co-op cap is two.
- Most players online: Online co-op cap is four.
- Free base co-op: The Xbox Series full base game requires purchase.
pcgamer.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Sessions, Unlocks and progress, Planning ahead, Exploring.
- Sessions: PC Gamer, September 18, 2025, describes finishing a campaign before alternate characters and post-campaign builds.
- Unlocks and progress: PC Gamer describes persistent levels, skill trees, legendary equipment and post-campaign specialisations.
- Planning ahead: PC Gamer explains replacing gear and changing skill branches to form distinct builds.
- Exploring: PC Gamer describes side quests, mini-dungeons, hidden loot and world bosses across Kairos.
techradar.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Laughter and chaos, Story, Jumping and climbing, Fighting, Tension and danger, Getting better.
- Laughter and chaos: TechRadar, September 11, 2025, describes measured scripted comedy, with shooting as the main activity.
- Story: TechRadar follows a complete campaign and its characters, while the loot and shooting remain central.
- Jumping and climbing: TechRadar describes regular grappling, gliding, dodging and air dashes during combat and traversal.
- Fighting: TechRadar describes recurring enemy camps, bosses and weapon-driven fights.
- Tension and danger: TechRadar describes tougher enemies, on-death effects and dangerous bosses between travel sections.
- Getting better: TechRadar describes learning movement tools and matching skills with weapon modifiers.