Borderlands 4 Loses 85% of Steam Players Since Launch

Borderlands 4 has lost 85% of its Steam players one month after launching on Sept. 12. The game initially reached 304,398 peak concurrent players during launch weekend, with a day-one high of 201,273, highlighting a sharp Borderlands 4 concurrent player decline.

According to Borderlands 4 SteamDB statistics, the 24-hour peak on Oct. 14 was 44,394, and roughly 32,800 players are currently online. The 30-day average stands at 97,880, down 31.1% from September, indicating early Borderlands 4 player retention issues.

Borderlands 4 Endgame Content and Updates

Players report limited Borderlands 4 endgame content, low loot drop rates, and performance issues, including NVIDIA DLSS adjustments, as factors in the decline. Once preferred builds are optimized, incentives to continue grinding decrease, according to community feedback.

Gearbox plans updates to address these issues, including weapon balance changes, improved loot rewards, and new endgame features such as invincible bosses and seasonal events in the Horrors of Kairos update later this month. The first paid DLC, Bounty Pack: How Rush Saved Mercenary Day, is scheduled for Nov. 20 and may encourage players to return.

The drop reflects a common trend for looter-shooters, where initial hype drives peak numbers, and the Borderlands 4 launch peak vs. current players shows the steep decline typical of the genre. Maintaining roughly 25,000 to 35,000 active PC players remains significant.

Upcoming updates, combined with a potential Borderlands 4 sales discount on Steam, could help stabilize engagement.

The situation highlights the importance of post-launch content and performance in sustaining player bases. How Gearbox addresses Borderlands 4 community feedback will determine whether the game retains players through the holiday season and beyond.