To play Borderlands 4 early, the main way is to purchase and play the PC version. The PC version of Borderlands 4 was released with an approximate 12-hour head start compared to console versions. Specifically, PC players got access starting at 12 PM Eastern Time on September 11, whereas console players (PS5, Xbox Series X/S) could only start playing at midnight Eastern Time on September 12. There is no official early access or special edition granting days of early play before these times; it's just a staggered release between platforms. In summary, to get the earliest playable access:
- Buy Borderlands 4 on PC.
- Play from the official PC release time (12 PM ET on September 11).
Console players have to wait until midnight ET September 12 to play.
No other official early access method exists, and the game does not have a separate early access period. The 12-hour head start is the only early play advantage available at launch.
