Borderlands 4 Crossplay Explained: How to Squad Up Across Platforms

Here’s the good news that’ll make your trigger finger tingle with excitement: Yes, Borderlands 4 absolutely supports crossplay functionality across every single platform. We’re talking PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (both Steam and Epic), and even the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 release.

This means you can finally team up with that one friend who stubbornly refuses to abandon their console while you’re living your best PC master race life. Or maybe you’re the console holdout – no judgment here, we all have our preferences.

But here’s where things get a bit nerdy (and honestly, slightly annoying): you’ll need to jump through a small hoop first. Before you can start blasting bandits with your cross-platform squad, you’ll need to create a SHiFT account. Think of it as Gearbox’s way of keeping everyone connected – it’s basically their version of a universal gaming passport.

Without a SHiFT account, you’re stuck playing only with people on your specific platform. And trust me, in a game like Borderlands where the fun multiplies exponentially with friends, you don’t want to limit your options.

The SHiFT Account Requirement

Let’s be real here – having to create yet another gaming account is about as exciting as watching paint dry on Pandora. But the SHiFT system isn’t just about crossplay; it’s actually pretty useful once you get past the initial setup annoyance.

Your SHiFT account unlocks more than just cross-platform play. It’s your gateway to redeeming those precious SHiFT codes that Gearbox loves to drop on social media. You know, those cryptic strings of numbers and letters that translate into golden keys and exclusive loot? Yeah, you’ll need SHiFT for those goodies.

The setup process is straightforward enough – just head to shift.gearboxsoftware.com and follow the prompts. It takes maybe five minutes, and honestly, those five minutes will save you hours of frustration later when you realize you can’t play with half your gaming friends.

What About Cross-Progression?

Now here’s where my excitement takes a bit of a hit, and I’m sure yours will too. Borderlands 4 does not currently support cross-progression or cross-save functionality at launch. Let that sink in for a moment.

This means if you’ve been grinding on your PlayStation 5 and decide you want to switch to PC for that sweet 120fps action, you’re starting completely fresh. All those legendary weapons you’ve collected, that perfectly optimized build you’ve been working on, those countless hours of progress – none of it carries over.

I know, I know. It’s 2025, and the fact that we’re still dealing with platform-locked saves feels absolutely archaic. It’s like being forced to use dial-up internet when everyone else has fiber optic. But before you start rage-quitting, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

Will Cross-Progression Come Later?

Here’s where my inner optimist starts to perk up a bit. Gearbox has officially confirmed through a Steam post that cross-progression is “on their radar.” While that’s corporate speak for “we’re thinking about it, maybe, possibly, if the planets align,” it’s better than radio silence.

The development team clearly understands that this is a feature the community desperately wants. And let’s be honest, in the current gaming landscape, cross-progression isn’t just a nice-to-have feature – it’s practically essential for maintaining player engagement across platforms.

There’s no timeline for when this might arrive, which is frustrating for those of us who like to have our gaming ducks in a row. But given how vocal the community has been about this feature, I’d be genuinely surprised if it doesn’t show up in a future update.

Split-Screen Gaming Makes a Comeback

Now here’s something that actually got me genuinely excited – local split-screen co-op is alive and well in Borderlands 4, but with some caveats that might sting a bit.

If you’re gaming on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S, you’re in for a treat. The game supports local split-screen for up to two players on the same console, and you can even have additional online players join your split-screen session for a full four-player mayhem fest.

The split-screen can be configured either vertically or horizontally, depending on what works best for your setup and preferences. It’s honestly refreshing to see a developer still caring about couch co-op in an era where everything seems designed to push people into separate rooms with headsets.

But here’s where PC and Nintendo Switch 2 players might feel a bit left out: split-screen functionality is exclusively for PlayStation and Xbox consoles. If you’re a PC gamer hoping to share your screen with a friend sitting next to you, you’re out of luck – at least officially.

The Technical Reality of Modern Crossplay

Let’s get a bit technical for a moment, because understanding the nuts and bolts helps explain some of these limitations. Modern crossplay implementations aren’t just about flipping a switch and calling it a day. Different platforms have different network infrastructures, security protocols, and technical requirements.

When you’re playing across platforms, the game has to constantly translate between different systems, account for varying hardware capabilities, and maintain server stability across multiple ecosystems. It’s actually pretty impressive that it works as seamlessly as it does in Borderlands 4.

The cross-progression issue is particularly complex because it involves not just technical hurdles, but also platform politics. Each console manufacturer and digital storefront has their own policies about save data, user accounts, and cross-platform functionality. Getting everyone to play nice together is like herding cats – if the cats were multi-billion dollar corporations with competing interests.

Platform-Specific Considerations

Each platform brings its own quirks to the crossplay experience, and it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into:

PlayStation 5 players will need an active PlayStation Plus subscription to access online multiplayer features, including crossplay. The good news is that the PS5’s solid-state drive makes loading times practically instantaneous, which is clutch when you’re jumping between different areas of Kairos.

Xbox Series X|S gamers need Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold to get online. The Xbox’s Quick Resume feature is actually pretty handy for Borderlands 4, letting you jump back into the action almost instantly even after switching between games.

PC players on both Steam and Epic get the most flexibility in terms of graphics settings and performance optimization. You can really push those frame rates and visual fidelity to the max, though you’ll miss out on the split-screen functionality.

Nintendo Switch 2 players will get the portability factor, which honestly sounds amazing for a game like Borderlands. Being able to continue your Vault Hunter adventures on the go is going to be a game-changer for a lot of people.

The Bigger Picture for Gaming

The crossplay implementation in Borderlands 4 reflects a larger trend in the gaming industry. We’re slowly but surely moving toward a more platform-agnostic future, where the device you play on matters less than the friends you play with.

Sure, we’re not quite there yet – the missing cross-progression feature is a stark reminder of how much work still needs to be done. But the fact that a major AAA title launches day one with comprehensive crossplay support shows that developers and publishers are finally listening to what gamers actually want.

This shift benefits everyone in the ecosystem. Developers get larger, more unified player bases. Publishers see longer game lifespans and better retention rates. And we players get more friends to game with, regardless of their platform preferences.

Final Thoughts

Look, Borderlands 4’s crossplay implementation isn’t perfect. The missing cross-progression feature is genuinely frustrating, especially in 2025 when we should be past platform-locked saves. The SHiFT account requirement adds an extra step that some players will find annoying.

But here’s the thing – when you’re actually in the game, blasting through Kairos with your cross-platform squad, these minor annoyances fade into the background. The core experience of coordinated chaos with friends is everything you’d hope for in a Borderlands game.

The crossplay functionality works smoothly, connections are stable, and the ability to team up with friends regardless of their platform choice opens up so many more possibilities for epic loot runs and boss fights.

Will I keep hoping for cross-progression? Absolutely. Will I keep pestering Gearbox about it on social media? You bet. But in the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the hell out of this chaotic, beautiful, completely unhinged adventure with friends across every platform imaginable.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some legendary loot to farm with my cross-platform crew. These Vault Hunters aren’t going to level themselves.

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