Borderlands 4 Co-Op Guide: How to Play With Friends, Cross-Play, & Missing Cross-Save

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Borderlands has always been about chaotic fun with friends, and Borderlands 4 cranks that tradition up to 11 on the planet Kairos. Whether you’re teaming up to topple the tyrannical Timekeeper or farming for Legendary weapons, co-op is the heart of the experience.

This guide breaks down exactly how to squad up across platforms, why cross-save is still missing, and expert tips for smooth multiplayer mayhem. Perfect for both veteran Vault Hunters and total newcomers.

1. Getting Started With Borderlands 4 Cross-Play

1.1 How Cross-Play Works

Borderlands 4 supports full cross-play between PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam & Epic) and, starting Oct 3 2025, Nintendo Switch 2. Play anywhere, with anyone—no walls between platforms.

1.2 SHiFT Account Setup

Create and link a free SHiFT account (shift.gearboxsoftware.com) to enable cross-play and redeem Golden Key codes for bonus loot:

  1. Sign up with your email.

  2. Link PSN, Xbox Live, Steam, or Epic.

  3. Launch Borderlands 4 and confirm the connection.

1.3 Inviting Friends

Platform                Method                            Notes
All PlatformsIn-game friends listRequires SHiFT account
Same PlatformNative system UIPSN, Xbox Live, or Steam friends list
Cross-PlatformSHiFT username searchExact username needed

Pause the game → Social Menu → Invite Friends → select from SHiFT list or search by username.

1.4 Session Privacy & Settings

Set your session to Public, Friends-Only, or Invite-Only and toggle cross-play on/off anytime. You can also tweak difficulty to match your group’s style.

Borderlands 4 Co-Op Guide
2. Cross-Save & Cross-Progression: What’s Missing

  • Cross-Save = move your save file between platforms.

  • Cross-Progression = carry achievements, cosmetics, and meta-data everywhere.

Borderlands 4 launched without either feature. Gearbox acknowledged this on Steam, promising it’s “on our radar” for a future update.

Technical Hurdles

  • Massive weapon database must sync perfectly across PSN, Xbox, Steam, and Epic.

  • Needs robust conflict resolution and anti-cheat measures.

Pro Tips Until It Arrives

  • Pick a primary platform and stay there.

  • Don’t split progress across systems.

  • Watch official Gearbox channels for updates.

3. Maximizing Your Co-Op Fun

3.1 Team Composition

  • Vex (Siren) – battlefield control.

  • Amon (Forge Knight) – tanky melee.

  • Rafa (Exo-Soldier) – flexible damage.

  • Harlowe (Gravitar) – gravity crowd control.

Scaling difficulty keeps all levels relevant.

3.2 Open-World Coordination

  • Instant Warp to teammates anytime.

  • Echo-4 Waypoint (press Z on PC) guides the squad.

  • Form vehicle convoys for fast travel and chaos.

3.3 Loot & Inventory

Instanced loot = no fighting over drops. Trade gear, coordinate weapon preferences, and farm bosses together for four times the chances.

4. Troubleshooting & Performance

4.1 Cross-Play Issues

  • Verify SHiFT links.

  • Fix strict NAT by enabling UPnP or port forwarding.

  • Re-toggle cross-play in session settings if matchmaking stalls.

4.2 PC Performance Fixes

Issue                        Cause                            Quick Fix
Shader stutterFirst-time compilationWait ~10 min or clear shader cache
FPS dropsOld GPU driversUpdate drivers
Random crashesOverlay conflictsDisable Discord/Steam overlays
High pingNetwork congestionUse wired connection, close bandwidth-heavy apps

Intel 13th/14th-gen users: check BIOS updates and monitor CPU temps.

4.3 Session Recovery

  • Use friends list to reconnect after drops.

  • No auto-host migration—agree on a stable host.

  • Verify game files if persistent crashes occur.

5. Future Updates & Community Feedback

  • Cross-Save ETA: likely 6–12 months after launch, with full cross-progression in 1–2 years.

  • Player Feedback: File bugs on the official Borderlands Issue Tracker, tag @Borderlands or @2KSupport, or join r/Borderlands discussions.

Conclusion

Borderlands 4 nails the series’ trademark loot-fueled co-op with seamless cross-play and smart scaling, even if the missing cross-save stings for multi-platform players. Stick to one platform for now, follow the optimization tips above, and you’ll enjoy hours of smooth, chaotic fun on Kairos.

🛠️ Community Links & Resources

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