Fixing Borderlands 4 Not Launching on Steam: Causes & Proven Solutions (2025)

What to know

• Borderlands 4 launched on September 12, 2025, for PC via Steam, but many players report crashes and failure to start due to Unreal Engine 5 instability.
• Issues stem from incompatible latest drivers, hardware scheduling conflicts, and high CPU core demands overwhelming some systems.
• Gearbox recommends verifying files and tweaking settings first, with the game now at 'mixed' Steam reviews after initial negativity.
• Fixes often involve downgrading drivers or disabling features like GPU scheduling to stabilize performance.

You dive into Borderlands 4 expecting explosive action on Pandora's wild frontiers, only to hit a wall when the game refuses to launch on Steam. With the title fresh out of the gate on September 12, 2025, these startup crashes have frustrated countless players, pulling in mostly negative reviews initially over performance woes. You're not alone—Gearbox has even set up a troubleshooting hub urging folks to experiment with settings for at least 15 minutes to see improvements. Let's unpack why this is happening and walk through targeted fixes based on community-tested methods.

Pinpointing why Borderlands 4 won't launch on Steam

Borderlands 4 runs on Unreal Engine 5, which demands hefty resources and can clash with modern PC setups right out of launch. Common culprits include the latest graphics drivers introducing bugs specific to UE5 games, leading to crashes during shadier compilation or intro sequences. Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, a Windows feature meant to boost efficiency, often backfires here by causing frame pacing issues or outright failures to initialize. On the CPU side, the game's preference for "8 cores or equivalent" quality over sheer quantity means uneven core allocation can trigger instability, especially if your processor's performance cores are overclocked or misconfigured. Additionally, overlays from Steam, Discord, or antivirus software exacerbate this, interfering with the launch process, while corrupted files from the rushed day-one patch add to the mix. These aren't isolated glitches; they've hit thousands, but targeted tweaks can get you in the fight.

Use the two methods below to fix the issue instantly.

Method 1: Changing Steam launch options and downgrading your graphics drivers

If verifying game files doesn't cut it—Steam's built-in tool to scan for corruption—try this combo to force compatibility and sidestep driver conflicts. Many players with NVIDIA or AMD cards report success by rolling back to a pre-launch driver version, as the newest ones (like NVIDIA's 560 series) optimize for features Borderlands 4 can't handle yet.

Here's how you do it step by step:

Step 1: Right-click Borderlands 4 in your Steam library, select Properties, and go to the General tab. In the Launch Options field, add -dx11 to force DirectX 11 mode—this bypasses DX12 glitches on older or mid-range GPUs. Save and try launching.

Step 2: If it still crashes, head to your GPU manufacturer's site: For NVIDIA, download driver version 577.00 (from July 2025) via GeForce Experience or their archive.

Step 3: For AMD, grab Adrenalin 25.3.1. Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in safe mode to wipe current drivers cleanly—search for DDU on Guru3D for the latest version.

Install the older driver, restart your PC, and launch the game again. This often resolves black screens or desktop crashes during startup.

Method 2: Disabling GPU scheduling and adjusting your CPU's performance core ratio

When driver tweaks aren't enough, dive into Windows and BIOS settings to calm resource contention. Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (HAGS) lets your GPU handle more tasks independently, but in Borderlands 4, it leads to stuttering or failure to render the intro. Pairing this with a CPU tweak reduces strain on high-performance cores, which the game leans on heavily for its chaotic particle effects and AI.

Follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings, go to System > Display > Graphics settings.

Step 2: Toggle on Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, then restart your PC. This hands control back to the CPU, stabilizing launches on Windows 11 setups.

Step 3: For the CPU adjustment, enter your BIOS (usually by pressing Del or F2 during boot). Navigate to Advanced > CPU Configuration (varies by motherboard—check your manual). Look for Performance Core Ratio or E-core settings and set the multiplier to 53x or lower (e.g., from 55x to 48x on Intel 13th/14th gen) to cap peak speeds without disabling cores. Save and exit.

Boot back into Windows, disable any overclocks via tools like Intel XTU or Ryzen Master if applicable, and launch Borderlands 4. Monitor with Task Manager to ensure even core usage.

To help you choose, here's a table of these methods alongside Gearbox's official basics:

Data pulled from Steam discussions and Gearbox support as of September 13, 2025.

Overcoming launch hurdles to unleash your Vault Hunter

With these steps, you should blast past Borderlands 4's rocky Steam debut and into its loot-filled mayhem. Gearbox's ongoing patches promise smoother sails soon, so hang tight—your next big score awaits just a tweak away.