Borderlands 3 is finally out! Hooray! After years of waiting, we finally a current-gen sequel to Gearbox’s looter-shooter. You may, however, have noticed that there were very few reviews of the game available before its release. While Gearbox and 2K cited “security concerns” there may have been a few more reasons for the lack of reviews. According to the game’s subreddit, Borderlands 3 is a bit of a mess, no matter which platform you’re playing it on.
On console – that’s across PS4, Ps4 Pro, Xbox One and Xbox One X – there’s apparently some horrific input lag, coupled with a plethora of bugs and glitches that are making fans pretty unhappy right now. Players say that the inventory screens can be bugged, with items overlayed atop one another making it impossible to manage. The biggest problem for console players though appears to be input lag. Even on the PS4 Pro and Xbox One, the input lag is making the game unplayable for some:
“OK, I am not a wine snob when it comes to shooter controls. Some games feel better than others of course, but I will gradually adjust to different sensitivities and deadzones and stuff. I don’t demand that everything be an exact way,: says redditor rdhight
“But the amount of input lag on Borderlands 3, on the PS4 Pro, is kicking my butt. I was using an official controller, singleplayer, no split-screen, nothing weird. Just starting a new game. Like, it is very noticeable, right from when Claptrap first gives you the echo device, before combat even starts. I go to start running and push the left stick all the way to the limit of its movement before I start to move. Distance aiming is so awkward, I think I killed about two psychos before turning the game off in exasperation.”
It’s a situation that other users have encountered – including our own Darryn, who’s finding the input lag on the base Ps4 bad enough to ruin the experience.
“The game is not running stable, whatsoever. Performance Mode is suppose to be 1080p 60fps, and it clearly is not. Whether the framerate is set to variable (there is also slight screen tearing) or the game is running 60fps but the frame-time is not 16ms and therefore causing input delay/stutter/choppy feedback.”
And in the bug and performance Megathread, even PC users with cutting edge-hardware are struggling to get the game to run at its best. Players with cards that should run the game like butter are struggling to get a smooth experience:
“I am getting pretty much the worst performance i have ever gotten in a game,” says one redditor, whose issues are echoed by others. “Very choppy even though it says the frame rate is well over 100. One specific thing I’ve noticed is that zooming or unzooming any gun will drop the frame rate by about 40 every single time for me, without fail. Honestly, the frame rate for me has been so bad I’ve just had to squint at my screen. Even if I’m only getting 60ish frames on other newer games with my setup, it’s always smoother than this. This is very frustrating because, at this point, it’s essentially unplayable for me.”
There are also issues with the game’s DX12 implementation, which is still in beta at launch. According to 2K, players should play the game using DX 11.
“Borderlands 3 currently defaults to initially start in DirectX 11. As is outlined in the in-game graphics settings menu, DirectX 12 is currently in Beta.
Use of DirectX 12 (Beta) can potentially lead to an increase in load times for some hardware configurations, especially on the first launch after enabling DirectX 12 (Beta), and/or additional unintended visual artifacts.”
If these issues impact your overall experience, reset your preferred graphics API in the in-game graphics settings menu to DirectX 11 and restart the game.”
It’s a situation that’s definitely disappointing, especially for a game that went “gold” months ago. We wanted a new Borderlands, and we got it – but I don’t think anybody wanted this.
Last Updated: September 13, 2019
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 13, 2019 at 12:04
Not gonna lie, I’m feeling the teeniest bit of schadenfreude.
Yahtzee
September 13, 2019 at 12:22
Indeed. Opening this article made me smile a bit for the first time today.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 13, 2019 at 13:14
Wonder if he’s going to blame it on outsourcing this time.
Pariah
September 13, 2019 at 13:15
It’ll be fans’ unrealistic expectations that forced them to rush the deadline and overwork their staff. Fucking fans, always their fault.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 13, 2019 at 13:24
If only people wouldn’t want to buy games!
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 13:24
https://media.giphy.com/media/agwRgmVDJceZO/giphy.gif
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:24
https://media0.giphy.com/media/CH0fzClj8QCDS/giphy.gif
Original Heretic
September 15, 2019 at 16:06
After playing it all weekend, I’ve hardly found anything game-breaking.
The menus have been a tad slow here and there, but gameplay has been smooth.
And it’s been a crap load of fun. If you like Borderlands, you’ll love this game.
Llama In The Rift
September 13, 2019 at 12:04
Oh well…Greedfall it is for the weekend…
Where’s that Randy magic on BL3?!?!
Yahtzee
September 13, 2019 at 12:22
Those greedfall animations are Andromada levels of creepy xD
Llama In The Rift
September 13, 2019 at 12:31
Lip synching of the charts!!!
Movement clucky as hell with weird camera positions….but the combat and companion systems are realy good….gives you this old school Bioware feel
Lourens
September 13, 2019 at 12:15
Never pre-order.
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:24
Indeed, never pre-order and if you feel the urge, call your friend. Real friends never let friends pre-order.
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 13:24
That’s why we all let you get the special edition, ultra pre-order edition…
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
With the little plastic figurine that’s uncomfortably too big and cheap looking.
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 15:50
https://media.giphy.com/media/wrBURfbZmqqXu/giphy.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 13, 2019 at 13:32
You let me preorder. Three times!
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
https://media.giphy.com/media/3o85xnoIXebk3xYx4Q/giphy.gif
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
Someone has to be the canary in the coal mines. 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
Again with the Welsh slurs. 🙁
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
Why aren’t you shoveling coal!? Get back down there!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
https://media.giphy.com/media/FYZUV8JfHFJTO/giphy.gif
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
That’s how I would mine coal…
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 13:40
https://media.giphy.com/media/TRMvepHQWl3C8/giphy.gif instead we get this…
Pariah
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
Alien Canary Trevor has a nice ring to it.
Yahtzee
September 13, 2019 at 12:22
Fun fact. Dx11 and 1080p came out in 2006. And yet this game can’t get either right.
Magoo マグ
September 13, 2019 at 12:55
Nought bru. DX11 released in 2009.
Gustav Willem Diedericks
September 13, 2019 at 13:24
Still aeons ago in PC terms.
Yahtzee
September 13, 2019 at 14:09
9.0c released in 2009
Captain JJ
September 13, 2019 at 12:31
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/36e5274227c0e2b9ff8b2abf12c4f3075b4906eb0e7b2850c023af948082eb39.jpg
Yahtzee
September 13, 2019 at 12:45
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Magoo マグ
September 13, 2019 at 13:05
Ah fuck. I can’t believe you dun this.
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 13:24
LOL. Randy doesn’t give two figs, he’s taken your money and driving new Lamborghini!
Viper_ZA
September 13, 2019 at 13:41
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/14255abeeef0033b00a64570cd4d75a2530e7d99c0135f3b9d1d6da346c7b404.gif
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
I think Randy hasn’t been a Lamborghini guy since Borderlands 2; he’s a Koenigsegg man….
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 15:50
Oh wow, impressive!
Stoompot
September 13, 2019 at 15:02
I’m sure glad a lot of beta testers preordered. Good little slaves, yes you are. You make Randy very happy LOL
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:24
lol, Oh Randy… you should have just released your usb drive instead.
Viper_ZA
September 13, 2019 at 13:32
Pre-ordered the PS4 copy for the loot chest, oh well, at least I have that haha
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
What’s in the loot chest?
Viper_ZA
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
I suppose cheap plastic :/
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
A coupon for 50% off a microtransaction.
Viper_ZA
September 13, 2019 at 13:41
and a half-baked dlc ^^
Magoo マグ
September 13, 2019 at 13:58
Sounds oddly familiar…
RinceThis
September 13, 2019 at 15:50
hopes and dreams?
Original Heretic
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
Not everyone is having this issue.
Mine is fine, as is my buddy’s.
Lucky Friday 13th!
Son of Banana Jim
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
Sometimes fate favours the bold…
Original Heretic
September 13, 2019 at 13:33
I took a big chance with this pre-order. I hate pre-ordering, but it seems I was in luck this time, it really is as cool as I want it to be.
Lonni
September 13, 2019 at 21:38
Oof, as soon as I enter combat there’s just so much lag I cant aim or even turn my head without the screen just freezing every now and then. And something feels… off? I’ve only played for like 15 minutes but… Well, already from the beginning, Marcus kept talking about Zane AT THE SAME TIME he was talking in the cutscene after I picked FL4K. And when changing the colors of my equipment the cursor sorta… wont work. I have it over one color but the one next to it appears instead, or nothing happens at all when I click.
The music is great though, and I really want to like this game. I just can’t play right now when the framerates are so wonky.
I’m not gonna give up though. They’re probably gonna fix things…right? xD
Original Heretic
September 15, 2019 at 16:06
I’ve had none of these issues, luckily.
Been playing for most of the weekend and it’s been downright awesome.
Kestra Minerva
September 15, 2019 at 21:44
Yes same. Refunded the game. The loading times are stupid too. Shame, was looking forward to this.
nerdsplease
September 14, 2019 at 04:00
No vertical split-screen, the unreadable font size, the laggy menu in co-op, and the controller input lag ruined the game that my wife and I waited 7 years for. Thanks a lot, Gearbox.
SagatatiaRZA
September 15, 2019 at 01:36
Played a few hours yesterday with absolutely no problems (on PC). I have a decent pc but by no means a monster. Compatibility issues I guess.