Borderlands 3 Steam Pre-Loading, Cross-Play, Release Time, And More Detailed

We’re only a week away from Borderlands 3’s Steam launch, and as developer Gearbox gets ready to welcome a new crop of PC players, the studio has released an FAQ that breaks down everything you can expect from the looter-shooter’s Steam release on March 13. We’ve compiled it all down below.

Borderlands 3 was originally an Epic Games Store exclusive when it launched in September 2019. Despite this exclusivity deal (that lasted almost six months), Gearbox’s looter-shooter was rather successful on Epic, with the number of peak concurrent players doubling the all-time top concurrent player record set by Borderlands 2. And across all platforms, Borderlands 3 became 2K Games’ fastest-selling title ever.

Gearbox is preparing to launch Borderlands 3’s second major campaign add-on Guns, Love, and Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock, which arrives on March 26. While announcing this piece of DLC, the studio also teased the looter-shooter’s third expansion that will feature outlaws and dinosaurs. Both expansions are part of Borderlands 3’s Season Pass, which retails for $50.

You can check out everything you need to know about Borderlands 3’s PC launch below.

Is Borderlands 3 available to pre-load?

While Borderlands 3 can be added to your Steam wishlist right now, eager players won’t be able to pre-load the looter-shooter until Tuesday, March 10.

When will Borderlands 3 unlock?

According to the Borderlands 3 FAQ, the looter-shooter should be playable as early as 7 AM PST / 10 AM EST / 3 PM GMT on Friday, March 13.

Is cross-play an option for Borderlands 3?

Vault Hunters on Steam will be able to encounter players that bought the game through the Epic Games Store via Shift Matchmaking. (A Shift account is not required to enable cross-play on PC.) When Borderlands 3 launches on Steam next week, you’ll see a “PC Cross-Play” screen with an option to toggle the feature on and off. It can also be found in the “Options” menu under “General” in the “Network & Social” section. Gearbox also plans to implement a patch “in the near future” that will let you send items to players who own Borderlands 3 on either Steam or the Epic Games Store.

Unfortunately, both cross-play and sending items to players on other platforms–such as PlayStation 4, Stadia, and Xbox One–are not an option “at this time,” according to the Borderlands 3 FAQ.

What are the Borderlands 3 PC requirements?

Minimum:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 7/10 (latest service pack)
• Processor: AMD FX-8350 or Intel i5-3570
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon™ HD 7970 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2 GB
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 75 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

Recommended:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 7/10 (latest service pack)
• Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 2600 (Intel i7-4770)
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon™ RX 590 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 75 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

How much hard drive space does Borderlands 3 take up?

You’ll need at least 75 GB to install and play Borderlands 3 when it hits Steam next week.

Can Borderlands 3 files transfer between the Epic Games Store and Steam?

This depends on what you’re trying to transfer over. The Borderlands 3 FAQ states that save files can be transferred between the two digital storefronts–though you’ll have to do it all manually. This greatly increases your risk of losing files, so be careful and create backups of your files.

The same can’t be said for campaign add-ons and achievements. In the case of achievements, however, some will carry over through the transferring process. Others may require you to start them over, and others still may be locked off based on your progression. Gearbox said it “can’t guarantee” that Steam will recognize any achievements you’ve already unlocked.

Can Borderlands 3 be played offline on Steam?

You can play Borderlands 3 offline if you wish to prevent yourself from encountering other players. However, you do have to verify your ownership of the game’s license through a one-time internet connection. The same will be necessary for any hotfixes and patches that will inevitably release.