Borderlands 3 is going free-to-play this weekend on almost every platform it’s available for, with just one notable exception. The popular looter shooter was recently updated with the Bounty of Blood DLC, which adds more of the same content that keeps players coming back to pull the trigger - but not much else.
The original Borderlands was something of a novelty when it was released in 2009, combining first-person shooter gameplay with the loot grind that was at the time most common to action RPGs like Diablo and its sequel. It also brought a cartoony, cel-shaded visual style to a genre that was dominated by games with color palettes that didn’t extend too far past brown. While its sequels haven’t done much to change up the formula established in the original, they’ve nonetheless been solid sellers and courted a dedicated group of fans with their addictive gameplay loop and a collection of unique weapons.
Anyone who hasn’t jumped into the latest entry in the series - or has never tried a Borderlands game at all - will have the perfect chance to give it a shot this weekend. According to developer Gearbox Software, Borderlands 3 will be free to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam, and Stadia, with slightly different start and end times for each platform. The free trial starts on the morning of August 6th for every version, though at slightly different times. Xbox One and PS4 players will have the least time to get on board, with free periods ending on August 9th, while Stadia’s trial goes until August 10th, and the Steam version will be available until August 12th. The Epic Games Store is conspicuously absent from the free weekend, meaning PC players will have to use Steam if they want to get in on the action.
A weekend of free looting and shooting is likely to be an enticing offer for many, but the event’s timing means Borderlands 3 will have some serious competition. In a bit of bad luck for Gearbox Software, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s multiplayer mode is also free this weekend on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, with a trial running from August 7th to August 12th.
For anyone who’s not diving into the free Modern Warfare trial, Borderlands 3 could be the perfect way to relax over the weekend. It’s the furthest thing from what could be called a cerebral shooter, requiring players to basically just aim and shoot - and even aiming is somewhat optional with the right rocket launcher.
Borderlands 3 is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC.
Source: Gearbox Software