With the arrival of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, an official port of Borderlands 3 was only a matter of time. It turns out that the next-gen version of Borderlands 3 is seriously impressive, though, as the game runs at 120 FPS on both next-gen consoles via the newly added performance mode.
While Borderlands 3’s performance on next-gen consoles was originally seen as disappointing due to a 60 FPS limit for 4K devices, this bit of news regarding a performance mode should prove exciting for players wanting a higher frame rate. The game will only be presented at 1080p via performance mode, but this Borderlands 3 specification shines by seeing the looter-shooter boosted to an impressive 120 FPS.
Performance mode was not as heavily marketed in the trailer for Borderlands 3’s next-gen upgrades, but these new details should be reassuring to players looking to run the game in a way that prioritizes gameplay over visuals. 120 FPS should prove extremely useful in the game's more intense encounters when a lot is happening on screen, and it should get used plenty by fans going forward. Regardless of which version players use, however, the next-gen upgrade of Borderlands 3 is a major step up in terms of performance.
Performance mode and its 120 FPS also works for split-screen players, meaning that they should have no trouble playing the smoothest version Borderlands 3’s Season Pass 2 content with a friend. It is worth noting, however, that he 4K version of Borderlands 3 sees some occasional dropped frames in split-screen. Performance mode, on the other hands, seems to run perfectly fine in local co-op, making it a go-to choice when playing in split-screen.
The 120 FPS addition is one of many changes made by Gearbox ahead of Borderlands 3’s next-gen launch, as the game received a fairly expansive patch ahead of the re-release. The latest Borderlands 3 update saw support added for the game’s new DLC, the addition of an extra Mayhem level, and numerous bug fixes. Skill tree changes were also made, with Zane reworked to allow for greater build variety.
For Borderlands 3 players looking to dive into the Arms Race DLC mode, a next-gen console seems like a great place to do so. Whether the game is running at 4K or the newly discovered 120 FPS option, playing Borderlands 3 on PS5 and Xbox Series X should make the game feel better than ever.
Borderlands 3 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.