Borderlands 4 PC Performance: March Patch Boosts FPS by Up to 43%

March 25, 2026 Rachel Kim – Technology Editor Technology

2K Games reports a 20% improvement in performance and stability for Borderlands 4 following the release of its March update, addressing widespread criticism of the game’s initial launch in September 2025. The update, version 1.5, shows significant gains across a range of PC hardware configurations, according to testing conducted by 2K and Gearbox.

The performance improvements were measured by comparing version 1.5 to the launch version, 1.0.2. Testing encompassed various in-game quality settings and hardware, including minimum, recommended, and high-end specifications. The most substantial gains were observed in native resolution without DLSS upscaling. Specifically, a system utilizing an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 and an Intel Core i7-9700K processor saw an approximate 43% increase in frames per second at 1080p with low graphics settings. A more powerful configuration with an RTX 3080 and an i7-12700K experienced a 26% improvement at 1440p with high graphics settings.

Even on high-end hardware, the update delivered noticeable improvements. A system equipped with an NVIDIA RTX 4080 and an Intel Core i7-13700K processor increased from 54.96 FPS to 78.43 FPS at 1440p with very high graphics settings. While performance gains with DLSS upscaling were less dramatic, ranging from 17% to 35%, they still represent a meaningful improvement, particularly on lower-end systems where frame rates increased from 53 to 67 FPS.

The improvements extend to 1% and 0.1% low FPS measurements, indicating a more stable gaming experience across all tested configurations. Gearbox confirmed the 20% FPS gains in a statement released on March 26th, coinciding with the rollout of the 1.5 update.

The launch of Borderlands 4 was met with considerable player frustration due to performance issues. 2K and Gearbox acknowledged these problems and committed to ongoing optimization efforts. The March update represents a significant step towards addressing those concerns, though some players have expressed reservations about the extent of the improvements, characterizing them as insufficient given the initial state of the game.