The wait for Borderlands 4 has been long, but Gearbox has returned with its most technically ambitious entry yet, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Thanks to new features like Lumen global illumination, Nanite geometry, and virtual shadow maps, this is by far the most visually advanced Borderlands game to date. However, as Digital Foundry highlights in their latest in-depth analysis, the transition to Unreal Engine 5 hasn’t been without problems—especially when it comes to console performance.
A Beautiful Upgrade on Paper
Digital Foundry points out that Borderlands 4 makes strong use of Unreal Engine 5’s cutting-edge technology. Lighting across the world now dynamically adapts to time of day and weather, while Nanite allows seamless transitions in geometry detail. Shadows also extend farther and more accurately than ever before. These upgrades give Pandora and beyond a richer, more immersive look.
Performance Drops Over Time
Unfortunately, performance doesn’t hold up. On PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X, the 60 FPS performance mode begins smoothly, but frame rates degrade steadily after 30–60 minutes of play. What begins as a stable 60 FPS session eventually plunges into the 40s—and in extreme cases, the mid-30s—during long missions or heavy battles. Xbox consoles also suffer from noticeable screen tearing.
The problem isn’t isolated to one console. Across PS5, PS5 Pro, and Series X, performance worsens the longer you play, suggesting a memory leak or caching issue. The only temporary fix is to reset the game, which restores frame rates but forces players to break immersion.
Quality Mode – A Safer Bet (for Now)
For those seeking a smoother experience, Digital Foundry recommends the 30 FPS quality mode. Though it halves the frame rate, it offers more stable performance even during extended sessions, with improved lighting and reflections as a bonus. Xbox Series S, locked at 30 FPS, surprisingly runs the game with fewer issues than its more powerful counterparts.
PS5 Pro’s Hidden Advantages
Interestingly, the PS5 Pro offers stealth upgrades not listed on the PlayStation Store. Players get sharper UI elements rendered in true 4K, cleaner textures thanks to improved texture filtering, and better foliage draw distances. This makes the Pro version the sharpest and most stable of the bunch, though it isn’t immune to the gradual performance drop.
Final Thoughts
As Digital Foundry concludes, Borderlands 4 is a technical showcase marred by optimization problems. The improvements brought by Unreal Engine 5 are impressive, but frame rate degradation and bugs prevent the game from realizing its full potential. A patch from Gearbox is urgently needed to stabilize performance and ensure players can enjoy Pandora’s chaos without interruption.
Until then, players may want to stick with 30 FPS quality mode—or prepare to restart their game every hour if chasing 60 FPS.
Credit: This analysis is based on the excellent technical breakdown by Digital Foundry, whose full video you can watch here
