The latest Borderlands 4 patch notes highlight Gearbox’s focus on improving gameplay stability, balancing weapons, and introducing new quality-of-life features. Released on September 25, 2025, the patch builds on earlier September updates and addresses both PC and console performance issues while adding highly requested features.
Patch Overview & Release Timeline
The September 25, 2025 patch was a significant follow-up to the September 18 update. While the earlier patch focused on progression smoothing and loot adjustments, the most recent release added more performance optimizations and console-specific improvements such as an FOV slider for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
This update represents Gearbox’s ongoing effort to stabilize the game after launch and respond quickly to community concerns.
Performance & Stability Changes
A large portion of the patch targeted performance fixes across platforms:
- PC Enhancements: Crashes tied to animation, audio, and GPU usage were resolved. Shader compilation was also improved to reduce load stutters.
- Loot Corrections: The Gilded Glory Pack was removed from random loot pools, and item claiming issues in the Reward Center were fixed.
- Console Additions: A long-requested FOV slider was added to PS5 and Xbox, giving players more visual flexibility. Gearbox noted that widening FOV could impact frame stability.
- Shader Warnings: Developers confirmed that some stutter may appear during initial shader compilation, but it should lessen after continued play.
Gameplay Updates & Balance Tweaks
The patch did not stop at performance—it also included notable gameplay adjustments:
- Weapon Buffs:
- Tediore weapons received a 10% increase in damage and magazine size.
- Hellwalker shotgun now always spawns with fire damage.
- Lucky Clover pistol gained a faster fire rate.
- Fisheye sniper rifle received a damage increase.
- Queen’s Rest pistols had projectile behavior corrected.
- Skill Tree Adjustments:
- Forgeknight’s Primal Surge now correctly restores both shields and ammo.
- Fixes applied to several augments and passives such as Containment Breach and Break the Ice.
- Endgame Systems:
- Weekly Big Encore Bosses rotation continues, offering fresh challenges.
- Wildcard Missions can now be replayed infinitely with randomized traits.
- Maurice’s Black Market vending machine updates weekly with powerful loot, though items vary by player.
- Progression Improvements:
- Mission-blocking issues were smoothed out to prevent players from being stuck in quest chains.
Community Reaction & Ongoing Issues
The community has been divided in its reception of the patch:
✅ Positive Feedback
- Console players welcomed the new FOV slider.
- Buffs to underused weapons such as Tediore and Hellwalker were praised for enabling new builds.
- Stability improvements resolved crashes for many PC players.
❌ Complaints Still Present
- Some players reported new stuttering and frame drops post-update.
- Console users noticed dips in performance when widening FOV.
- Shader-related lag during the opening minutes of sessions continues to frustrate players.
Gearbox acknowledged these reports and encouraged players to allow shaders to fully compile during play.
What’s Next for Borderlands 4
The September 25 patch is not the final word. Gearbox confirmed more patches are in the pipeline to refine balance and improve performance. Players can expect:
- Additional balancing of overpowered builds.
- Console stability fixes to smooth out frame drops.
- Bug cleanups involving UI glitches and rare crashes.
- Upcoming DLC in early 2026 featuring the new Vault Hunter “C4SH” as part of Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned.
- Broader support for cross-platform play and eventual rollout to other platforms.
Borderlands 4’s latest patch shows Gearbox is listening to its community by addressing performance struggles and adding long-requested features. While some issues remain, the improvements mark a step toward a smoother Vault Hunter experience. What do you think of the changes—did this update solve your problems, or are you still waiting for fixes?