Pitchford’s post comes in response to an earlier one he made about the average play time for Borderlands players across Borderlands 2 and 3. According to his figures, the average play time for Borderlands 2 was around 13 hours and 42 minutes, with more than 87 percent of all players having played the title for more than an hour. Borderlands 3, on the other hand, came in around 18 hours and 48 minutes of average play time, with 92 percent of all players having played it for more than an hour.

“So what is meaningful here is that BL3 seems to engender a meaningful degree more average playtime than BL2,” wrote Pitchford. “Earlier, the folks responding to a poll seemed to believe that actual play time is a better correlation to quality than user reviews.”

Pitchford then went on to dissect why more players might have spent more time with Borderlands 3 over its predecessor, noting that it might come down to the fact that the more recent entry in the franchise was an improvement over Borderlands 2. He does note, however, that these numbers essentially came about through an informal poll he ran on social media.

“So it suggests that BL3 is ‘better’ than BL2 by the standard the people who responded to my poll have favored. Obviously individual tastes vary and entertainment is subjective,” he explained. “We are all edge cases. I tend to be in line with the crowd for most things, but I sometimes love some things others do not and I sometimes don’t prefer things others love. This is why we still have artists and entertainers – we’re all different and we’re all changing our tastes over time.”

Ultimately, Pitchford notes that Borderlands 4 is also turning out to be an improvement over the previous game, noting that these improvements have led Gearbox as a whole to be quite excited about its release.

“In any case, by any standard we’ve thrown at it, we are confident that BL4 is turning out to be better than BL3 by every measurement we have, including subjective ones, so that makes us very excited about the launch,” he wrote.

Borderlands 4 is slated for release on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 on September 12. So far, however, the studio is yet to confirm how much the game will cost. In a social media post earlier this month, Pitchford said that publisher 2K will be announcing the price for Borderlands 4 “soon”.

Duke Nukem 3D

3D Realms’ Duke Nukem 3D hasn’t aged well when examining its more risque elements. At the time, it stood out for imbuing some character into the first-person shooter genre, courtesy of Duke’s one-liners. The environmental interactions and destruction also felt fresh, to say nothing of bizarre weapons like the Shrink Ray for cutting enemies down to size.

SUPERHOT

What should be a gimmicky concept – time only moving when you do – results in an engaging, clever experience in the first-person shooter space. Superhot isn’t just about scoring headshots, throwing weapons, or swinging katanas to take out scores of enemies – it’s the assessment, the moments between each kill, that make it sing.

Valorant

Mix Counter-Strike: GO’s tactical shooting with characters befitting a hero shooter and you get Valorant, in a nutshell. As slow-paced and odd as it may seem, this is also one of the best tactical shooters, if not competitive multiplayer titles, out there. Despite only being out for a little over four years, Valorant offers tense gameplay that’s hard to put down.

Borderlands 3

Ignore the base game’s story, characters and writing for the sake of your sanity, and the gameplay in Borderlands 3 is a significant step up. From the smoother response and feedback and improved mobility to more varied gun types and deeper build crafting, it’s a strong looter shooter, though nowhere near as timeless as its predecessor.

DOOM 1 + DOOM 2

While fairly recent, DOOM 1 + DOOM 2 collects the best of both titles into one excellent package. Boasting all their additional content, Sigil, and a great new campaign by MachineGames, the release is made even better with in-game mod support, a stellar remixed soundtrack and cross-platform multiplayer deathmatch, with 26 new maps to cause chaos on.

Killzone 2

After the infamous E3 2005 incident, Guerrilla Games’ first-person shooter had nowhere to go but up, and subsequently knocked it out of the park. The gorgeous visuals were a factor, of course, but the well-designed missions, gunplay, intelligent AI, and tight level design made for an incredible experience (even if the ending was underwhelming).

Halo 3 ODST

Though not quite the follow-up that fans expected, especially after Halo 3’s thunderous conclusion, ODST was still a worthy side story. It focused on one of the most compelling units, the Helljumpers, as they infiltrated New Mombasa and engaged in urban warfare with the Covenant. Perhaps its biggest contribution is the introduction of Firefight, a Horde-style variant with difficulty modifiers, a shared lives pool, and multiple sets to overcome.

Bulletstorm

People Can Fly and Epic Games had a pretty simple goal with Bulletstorm – gamifying stylish ways to kill the opposition. The story and characters are ultimately secondary; kicking enemies into environmental hazards, sending them sky high for some skeet shooting, and more for extra points is ultimately what sold the experience. Even if it remains underrated (no thanks to its terrible VR port), Bulletstorm is still a hell-raising good time.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

The Zone remains as haunting as ever in GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, the third title in the series and most compelling yet. Though it has its share of bugs, the sandbox gameplay combined with the atmospheric horror and survival elements make for a harrowing time, whether you’re dealing with Anomalies or the various factions.

Destiny 2

Bungie’s live service shooter has had a long history, one with many ups and downs. Even throughout all of the changes, it remains perhaps the best of its kind. Between excellent campaigns like The Witch Queen and The Final Shape, an unmistakable feel for its weapons, gorgeous art direction, and stellar raids, Destiny 2 is still worth playing.

Unreal Tournament

When Quake 3 Arena was believed to reign supreme, Unreal Tournament appeared out of nowhere and claimed the throne. While the former still held a strong esports presence, the latter was the overall better product, from its map design and visuals to the sheer variety of mode types. Assault alone is an incredible addition to the competitive FPS formula and playing with AI bots actually felt enjoyable, even on the higher difficulties.

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter

Turok may have initially come across as “What if FPS but killing dinosaurs instead of humans?” but surprised many with its exploration and gorgeous visuals on the Nintendo 64. Of course, the combat was no slouch either, as each of the 13 weapons resulted in ample gore. Together, these elements made for an unorthodox but memorable shooter.

Prey (2017)

What could have been with the Prey franchise if Human Head Studios’ sequel wasn’t cancelled? We’ll never know, but in the meantime, Arkane Austin’s 2017 reboot, which embraces a more immersive sim structure and deep space paranoia, is excellent. As Morgan Yu, players must survive in a massive space station overrun with Typhon, but not everything is as it seems. The result is one of the finest first-person titles ever made.

Far Cry 3

Moving away from Far Cry 2’s realistic sandbox, Far Cry 3 went much bigger, returning to the tropical island setting while introducing a compelling new villain. Though the story is far more structured, the open world is rife with quests, enemy camps, wild animals, and much more. To this day, Far Cry 3 remains in a class of its own.

Metro: Last Light

Much as Metro Exodus embraced an open-world-style approach to its large areas, there’s something about Metro: Last Light and its linear narrative. Maybe it’s how well-designed each section felt, whether you were escaping from captivity or slinking through the surface, avoiding contact with its mutants. Perhaps it was the moral dilemmas that Artyom faced. Either way, the series’ brand of survival and fast-paced gunplay is at its peak here.

Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (Classic)

Ignoring the utter cluster that Aspyr’s re-released turned out to be in the online department, the classic Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is still a timeless game. The campaign is enjoyable enough but Galactic Conquest was a game changer of a single-player mode, offering a Risk-like map to fight through and conquer. Multiplayer was still arguably the highlight of it all, especially with 24 maps and modes like Hero Assault.

Medal of Honor (1999)

Developed by Dreamworks Interactive, it was the premiere World War 2 title, immersing players in the conflicts of the time while offering a top-tier presentation. Allied Assault would be more remembered thanks to its recreation of the Battle of Normandy, but Medal of Honor still deserves its flowers.

Left 4 Dead 2

Decried as little more than an expansion pack before launch, Left 4 Dead 2 expanded so much on its predecessor’s already compelling co-op gameplay. New Special Infected, deeper campaigns with more varied objectives, a wider variety of melee weapons and guns, and incredible replay value courtesy of its AI Director were just some of the reasons it stood out. Of course, its modability over the years has also ensured some great laughs.

Resistance 3

As the conclusion to the Resistance trilogy, Insomniac’s Resistance 3 is also its least successful. It’s a shame because, on top of new and old weapons, the atmosphere and dark subject matter added to the stakes, making it feel like humanity’s last desperate attempt to stay alive. While it still needed some polish, the gunplay and overall presentation made for a fitting end to the series.

System Shock (2023)

One of the best first-person titles ever made, System Shock is also far from easy to remake. Nevertheless, Nightdive Studios took a swing, rebuilding the visuals from the ground up while staying true to the far-future cyberpunk aesthetic of the original. Even with the improved UI, overhauled Cyberspace and other changes, it still maintains that sense of dread and terror that defined the original.

GoldenEye 007

Rare was already pretty well-established before GoldenEye 007 and yet, its launch raised the developer’s stock considerably. It isn’t just one of the best video game adaptations of a movie (usually a formula for failure back then), but proof that console shooters could be great. The local multiplayer alone defined many gamers’ lives growing up.

Cyberpunk 2077

After all the updates, revamped perks, and improvements, Cyberpunk 2077 has gone from a good first-person shooter to a great one. It’s backed by actual build variety, whether you’re a manic Mantis Blades user, a Netrunner overloading every single enemy, or skilled in a variety of guns. Of course, everything else that makes the game great, from its side quests to its open-world activities, doesn’t hurt either.

Wolfenstein 3D

While not quite the first-ever FPS made, Wolfenstein 3D is what ultimately led to the genre’s rise. It was frantic and fast-paced, with revolutionary visuals and excellent weapons. Though it offered secrets to discover throughout its ten episodes, the simplicity is ultimately what made it such a universal hit.

Quake 2 Remastered

Crafted with Nightdive’s assistance, the recent enhanced edition of Quake 2 packs all the mission packs, Quake 2 64, and a new episode from MachineGames into one package. Then it adds the id Vault, AI opponents in multiplayer, 4K/120 Hz support, and various quality-of-life features, turning one of id’s best shooters ever into a contemporary must-play.

The FINALS

Embark Studios’ THE FINALS is often forgotten when discussing competitive shooters, especially free-to-play options. Nevertheless, it’s a strong package with some unique modes, dynamic combat thanks to full environmental destruction, and extensive strategy, thanks to the unique gadgets. The arena-style combat may not appeal to everyone, but it still makes for some intense PvP sessions.

Black Mesa

If developing a sequel to Half-Life is challenging, remaking the experience, especially as a small team of fans, is an almost Herculean effort. Yet throughout many years of waiting, Black Mesa was finally a reality, delivering everything we loved about the original with gorgeous revamped visuals and entirely new sections like Xen.

DOOM (2016)

Considering how diminished interest had been in the franchise, it’s a miracle that DOOM even released. The fact that it’s this good is just an anomaly. Everything about it, from the visuals and action, particularly the new Glory Kills, is simply fantastic.

Perfect Dark

GoldenEye 007 showcased Rare’s surprising expertise for incredible first-person shooters and Perfect Dark only solidified it. With a tighter narrative focus and strong characterization (as seen with the iconic Joanna Dark), it weaved stealth, tense gunplay, memorable set pieces, and stellar levels into one cohesive package. The fact that it delivered so much despite the Nintendo 64 nearing the end of its lifespan is an achievement unto itself.

Titanfall 2

While it’s a shame that the original didn’t become all that popular, Titanfall 2’s fate is even more tragic given the sheer quality involved. The multiplayer is much more involved with its variety of Titans, weapon types and abilities (even if some maps could be hit or miss). Furthermore, the campaign is simply an all-timer with its level design, boss fights, and stories, making it worth the price of admission alone.

Half-Life 2

When you’re in Valve’s shoes and Half-Life is the pinnacle of narrative first-person shooters, there are high expectations. Yet, Half-Life 2 surpasses with relative ease, from the presentation and world-building to the story-telling and characters. Each area is memorable and unique; the Combine makes for enjoyable foes to fight; and the Gravity Gun is iconic all on its own.

Borderlands 3 is the fourth title in Gearbox’s looter shooter series, featuring four new Vault Hunters, each with three Skill Trees to mix and match abilities. It’s sold over 18 million copies to date and received a positive response for its gameplay despite issues with the story.

NHL 24 adds new features like the Exhaust Engine while revamping its Total Control Skill Moves and Vision Passing. It also offers cross-platform play and HUT Moments in Ultimate Team. Among Us is, well, still among us, but recently received three new Roles – Noisemaker, Phantom, and Tracker.

It’s also worth noting PlayStation Plus members can claim a Genshin Impact PlayStation Plus Pack on July 16th, which includes 160 Primogems, four Fragile Resin, 20 Hero’s Wit, 30 Mystic Enhancement Orders, and 150,000 Mora.

However, the hybrid platform received Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition on October 6th. It includes the base game, four story DLC packs, +30 cosmetics, the Designer’s Cut and Director’s Cut for $59.99. Pandora’s Box also throws in Borderlands 1 and 2 with their DLC, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Tales from the Borderlands and New Tales from the Borderlands.

The question is whether Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition owners on Switch can upgrade to the Pandora’s Box version. Such an offer is already in place for Xbox owners who own any game from the latter, so we’ll need to wait and see.

Borderlands Collection: Pandora’s Box could be announced at The Game Awards on December 7th along with the rumored Borderlands 4 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box for Nintendo Switch has been rated by Germany's software rating organization USK.#Borderlands #BorderlandsSwitch pic.twitter.com/EN2cYo47vU

— Kurakasis (@Kurakasis) November 24, 2023

In addition, players get DLC for all titles, which means numerous story packs, customization packs, Class Packs and more. Perhaps the best part about all this is that the collection is available until September 15th for $59.99 (after which it will retail for $149.99).

Xbox players who own any single game can upgrade to the Pandora’s Box collection for $30, while PlayStation owners must Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition or Borderlands: The Handsome Collection on PS4 or Borderlands 3 on PS4 or PS5 to upgrade for the same price. PC players on Steam can pay for whatever content is missing.

As for Nintendo Switch players, Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition launches on October 6th.

Along with the original release, you get four DLC packs – Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, Guns, Love, and Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright and Hammerlock, Bounty of Blood and Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck. You also get over 30 cosmetics, the Designer’s Cut and Director’s Cut.

The Nintendo Switch release is a long time coming, with game director Paul Sage stating back in September 2019 to “never say never” about a port. Stay tuned for more details on the port, like its resolution and frame rate. Check out our review for Borderlands 3 in the meantime. You can also check out the Borderlands Collection: Pandora’s Box, which launches on September 1st.

The collection includes Borderlands 1-3, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Tales from the Borderlands, and New Tales from the Borderlands, with all DLC included. It’s a digital-only release that retails for $149.99 but will be available at $59.99 for a limited time. Those who own any games on Xbox can purchase the bundle for $30 on the Microsoft Store to complete their collection.

PlayStation owners who own Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition or Borderlands: The Handsome Collection on PS4, or Borderlands 3 on PS4/PS5 can upgrade to Pandora’s Box for $30 from within any of these games. On Steam, players will have to pay for any content that isn’t owned, with the final cost reflected on the Steam Store page.

In its recent quarterly earnings report, 2K’s parent company Take-Two Interactive revealed that Borderlands 3 has now shipped over 18 million units worldwide across all platforms. As of the end of March 31, that number stood at 17 million units, which means it’s shipped an additional 1 million units in Q1 (April-June) of FY 2023/24.

Borderlands 3 also holds the crown of being 2K’s fastest-selling game to date, of course, while Take-Two has also confirmed that the Borderlands series’ total sales now stand at 81 million units. With over 27 million units sold, Borderlands 2 remains the series’ best-selling game.

Take-Two has also provided an update on Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2’s sales, both of which continue to sell at an impressive rate.

Caught by Gematsu, the Film and Publication Board of South Africa seems to have rated The Borderlands Compilation: Pandora’s Box back in March for both PC as well as consoles.

While not yet officially confirmed by 2K, The Borderlands Compilation: Pandora’s Box could be a collection of the three numbered titles in the franchise as well as Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. The name featuring Pandora as part of the title indicates that Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands may not be a part of the compilation, since it doesn’t take place on Pandora.

Last we heard of the Borderlands franchise, publisher Take-Two had revealed that Borderlands 3 had sold over 16 million units, making it the fastest-selling game for 2K New Tales from the Borderlands was also released back in October 2022, and you can check out our review for that for more details.

As spotted by Gematsu, Borderlands 3 has been rated for the Nintendo Switch by European classifications board Pan European Game Information (PEGI). The PEGI classification entails ratings for Borderlands 3: Director’s Cut, as well as all of the DLC it includes, suggesting that an announcement could be made soon. A placeholder release date of December 1 is also mentioned for the game’s Switch version.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that this has happened. Borderlands 3: Director’s Cut was rated for the Switch in April 2021, though shortly afterward, it was confirmed by publisher 2K that the rating was an error on PEGI’s part, which means there’s no certainty that that isn’t the case this time. Stay tuned for more updates on this front.

Borderlands 3 is currently available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. 2K recently announced that the game has shipped over 16 million units worldwide.