Gearbox, developer of Borderlands 4, has advised PC players to allow 15 minutes for shaders to compile in-game after reports emerged that this week's update worsened performance stuttering.
The September 25 patch, outlined here in detail, aimed to address Borderlands 4's notorious PC performance problems. However, some users immediately reported increased frame rate instability post-update.
Borderlands 4 maintains mixed Steam reviews, with PC performance being the primary criticism. Digital Foundry's technical review highlighted persistent stuttering issues, specifically warning against using the demanding 'Badass' graphics preset.
In response to player complaints, Gearbox posted troubleshooting steps on social media: gameplay continuation allows background shader compilation to complete within 15 minutes. Should problems persist, the studio recommends clearing shader cache through GPU manufacturer tools or submitting support tickets.
We've received reports that some players are experiencing reduced stability after downloading today's update.
— Borderlands (@Borderlands) September 25, 2025
Stuttering issues should resolve over time as the shaders continue to compile in the background while playing. If you're still experiencing issues after 15 minutes of…
As PC players know, Borderlands 4 requires initial shader compilation at launch. However, runtime compilation continues dynamically, causing intermittent stutters - an ongoing technical challenge acknowledged by developers.
Gearbox reiterates earlier Steam guidance emphasizing that graphics setting changes trigger fresh shader compilation: "Allow 15 minutes of uninterrupted gameplay after adjusting visuals for performance stabilization." This consistent messaging suggests a deliberate approach to managing player expectations.
The community has developed workarounds, including deliberately visiting intensive game zones to force comprehensive shader pre-compilation before regular gameplay.
To expand on this: quit the game once after launching and relaunch it. Now travel into a zone and back out (Idolator Sol’s or a Vault will work) this should compile a BUNCH of shaders and start improving the smoothness.
— Ki11er Six (@Ki11ersix) September 25, 2025
Shader compiling is rough.
New Borderlands 4 players should bookmark our updated SHiFT codes database. Essential resources include our interactive world map, Maxroll's comprehensive build planner, and character selection guides featuring conflicting expert opinions.
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