Michael Beckwith 
2K Games and Gearbox Software announced Borderlands 4, but will Epic Games Store once again have exclusive rights to its PC release?
Very little has been shared about Borderlands 4. So far, all 2K Games has confirmed is that players will once again take control of a vault hunter “as they search for secret alien treasure while blasting everything in sight.” Although the teaser did feature a first glimpse at a new planet players will get to explore, its story remains as mysterious as the release plans.
Unsurprisingly, Borderlands 4 is slated for almost all current gaming platforms; PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Borderlands 3 was exclusive to the Epic Games Store for a limited time, so can fans expect the same for Borderlands 4?
Will Borderlands 4 be an Epic Games Store exclusive?
Borderlands 4 is not set to be an Epic Games Store exclusive and is currently set for a Steam release.
The announcement trailer has confirmed Borderlands 4 won’t be an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC and will also be available on Steam. Neither 2K nor Gearbox have indicated that there will be any form of exclusivity for the game. This means Borderlands 4 will launch simultaneously on both platforms, barring any surprises.
This isn’t unusual considering all the other Borderlands games are on Steam as well as Epic Games Store. The first game is the one exception and is currently unavailable on Epic Games Store, so PC players can only get it through Steam. Borderlands 3 may have launched on Epic Games Store first, but this was only the case until a Steam version arrived in March 2020, six months later.
However, Borderlands 4’s lack of platform exclusivity may suggest a change in priorities at 2K, Gearbox, and Epic Games.
The legal battle between Epic Games and Apple revealed that the former spent $146 million to ensure Borderlands 3’s PC release would be a temporary exclusive for its storefront. While the game succeeded in meeting its $80 million minimum sales guarantee in its first two weeks, Epic Games has also admitted its storefront has yet to turn a profit.
It’s possible Epic opted not to bother chasing after Borderlands 4 exclusivity. Or maybe it did and 2K and Gearbox turned the offer down. Regardless, it seems like Borderlands 3’s temporary exclusivity was a one-off instance rather than a new standard for the series.
Metro Exodus was pulled from Steam after Epic Games tendered an exclusivity deal. Unless Epic pulls a shock move like that, expect Borderlands 4 on Steam.
