Borderlands 4: Gearbox Forgets the Portal Gun for Cross-Save at Launch – What Gives, Mate?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Gearbox has revealed that Borderlands 4 won't launch with cross-save or cross-progression, meaning your hard-earned loot and progress won't follow you across platforms on day one. While cross-play is in, this decision feels a bit behind the times, especially as the game faces high expectations after Borderlands 3.
Right, so you know that buzz, that low hum of anticipation when a big-name looter shooter is gearing up to drop? Borderlands 4 has been giving us that, building up nicely after the somewhat… divisive antics of Borderlands 3. We’ve been poring over every little detail, hoping Gearbox has learned a few new spells and honed their aim for this latest iteration, aiming for that sweet spot between the original classics and modern mayhem. But, naturally, there's always a little snag, isn't there?
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s got a bit of a head-scratcher. Gearbox, bless their hearts, just dropped the news via a Steam post that *Borderlands 4* won't be rocking cross-save or cross-progression at launch. Yeah, you heard that right. Come September 12th, if you’re planning to jump from your PC to your console, or vice versa, your precious Vault Hunter progress, that sweet, sweet legendary loot you’ve painstakingly acquired, and all your hard-earned unlocks won't be making the trip with you.
Now, for those who spend more time perfecting their builds than trying to decipher ancient runes, let's break that down. Cross-save means your game save file can be picked up on any platform you own the game on. Cross-progression? That’s about all the account-level stuff – your cosmetics, your challenge progress, your overall Vault Hunter prestige – following you across the digital ether. And honestly, in this day and age, it’s kinda expected, isn’t it?
You know that feeling when you've just crafted the perfect magical artefact, only to realise you left your charging crystals in another dimension? That's what this feels like for multi-platform players. It's particularly disappointing news when you consider how quickly those old console barriers are crumbling. Exclusives are becoming rarer than a fully-charged Eridium shard, and players are getting used to the freedom of playing their favourite titles wherever and whenever they fancy. Cross-save and cross-progression aren't just 'nice-to-haves' anymore; they’re pretty much essential features in our increasingly connected gaming worlds.
Gearbox *does* acknowledge this, mind you. Their statement mentioned, and I quote, "this may be frustrating for some players, and we hear you. This is on our radar, and we appreciate all of your feedback." It’s always nice to hear that developers are listening, isn't it? Though I do wonder if 'on our radar' sometimes means 'we’ll get to it after we’ve figured out how to make this thing actually launch without exploding.' Still, at least they've got a plan for future implementation, so it's not a permanent banishing spell.
Fair dinkum, though, why is this a thing in 2024/2025? Is it a technical hurdle with Unreal Engine 5, which Borderlands 4 is built on? Or a prioritisation issue, with other features taking precedence to hit that September 12th date? It just feels like a step back when so many other major titles have nailed this, allowing us to seamlessly switch between devices like we're teleporting between planets.
The good news – and there is some good news, mate, don't you fret – is that cross-play *will* be available from day one. So, you can still team up with your mates no matter what console they're on, which is a massive win for cooperative chaos. It just means if *you're* the one who owns multiple systems, you'll have to pick a primary platform for your launch-day shenanigans.
This news comes as Gearbox is pushing *Borderlands 4* hard, with Randy Pitchford himself expecting it to push the franchise sales past a colossal 100 million units. That’s a gargantuan milestone, a bit like trying to summon a moon-sized golem. And with *Borderlands 3* getting a mixed reception and the recent movie adaptation doing… well, what it did, the pressure is truly on for *Borderlands 4* to be a critical hit. Missing these expected quality-of-life features at launch, even if they're coming later, just adds another layer of scrutiny.
So, what does this all mean for us, the actual players? It means a bit of patience, I reckon. We'll get the full cross-platform experience eventually, but for now, if you're a multi-device Vault Hunter, you'll have to pick a primary platform for your launch-day shenanigans. Let's hope Gearbox delivers on the post-launch features swiftly and that *Borderlands 4* truly learns the right lessons to live up to the legendary status of its predecessors. Because a fully-featured, explosive looter shooter on all platforms? Now *that's* a spell worth casting.
Tags: Borderlands 4, Gearbox, Cross-Platform, Looter Shooter, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant