Gearbox’s upcoming looter-shooter, Borderlands 4, is bringing steep hardware demands to PC players—especially those without an 8-core CPU or a graphics card with at least 12GB of VRAM.
Launching on September 12, 2025, Borderlands 4 is set to push the franchise forward with Unreal Engine 5 graphics, a deeper RPG system, and a brand-new world: Kairos, ruled by a time-bending villain known as the Timekeeper. But while the gameplay promises to be bigger and better, not every PC gamer will be able to jump in—at least not without a serious upgrade.
Borderlands 4’s Demanding Specs: A Reality Check for PC Gamers
According to updated requirements shared by PC Guide, Borderlands 4 will demand a minimum of 8 CPU cores and a graphics card with at least 8GB of VRAM just to run. Even older 8-core chips like the Intel Core i7-9700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X make the cut, but recommended specs aim much higher:
Borderlands 4 PC Specs (as of June 18, 2025)
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10/11 | Windows 10/11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9700 / AMD Ryzen 7 2700X | Intel Core i7-12700 / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 32 GB RAM |
| Graphics | RTX 2070 / RX 5700 XT (8GB VRAM) | RTX 3080 / RX 6800 XT (12GB+ VRAM) |
| Storage | 100 GB SSD | 100 GB SSD |
| Additional Notes | Requires 8 CPU cores, SSD, and 8 GB VRAM | Requires 8+ CPU cores, SSD, and 12+ GB VRAM |
With ray tracing support and UE5 enhancements, the game takes full advantage of modern hardware—but that also means more than 50% of Steam users may not be able to run it properly. According to the latest Steam Hardware Survey, only 49.58% of players currently use an 8-core CPU or better, putting many systems below the game’s minimum threshold.
What Makes Borderlands 4 So Resource-Heavy?
Borderlands 4 is leveraging the full power of Unreal Engine 5, including dynamic lighting, larger world environments, and enhanced texture fidelity. With Gearbox now leaning more into RPG mechanics and cooperative play for up to four players, the studio has also added improvements to the Skill Tree system, letting players fully specialize Vault Hunters for different roles or perks.
While the console versions will also launch on September 12, a Switch 2 version is in development but expected to arrive at a later date.
Final Thoughts
While the high system requirements might lock some fans out of the action temporarily, they also point to a technically ambitious new chapter in the Borderlands saga. Still, players with older rigs may need to consider upgrades—or risk being left behind when Borderlands 4 drops this fall.
