A Breath of Fresh Air: Borderlands 4 May Finally Bring FOV Sliders to Console

The highly anticipated launch of Borderlands 4 was met with a mix of celebration and frustration. While critics and players alike have praised the game’s signature looter-shooter action, its technical state on console has been a significant point of contention. A major missing feature—the Field of View (FOV) slider—has caused a storm of complaints from players, with many reporting motion sickness and discomfort from the low, fixed FOV. In a swift and encouraging response to this backlash, Gearbox Software has announced that it is “exploring” how to bring this critical accessibility feature to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, a move that could significantly improve the game’s reception and player experience.

The Claustrophobic View from Console

For PC players, the FOV slider has long been a standard feature in first-person games. It allows them to adjust the camera’s perspective, expanding their view of the world to see more of the action and reduce the “tunnel vision” effect that can be disorienting for some. Borderlands 4‘s PC version launched with a robust FOV slider that allows players to adjust the setting up to 110 degrees, both in standard gameplay and in vehicles. However, the console versions were released with a noticeably narrow, locked FOV, estimated by players to be around 75 degrees.

The lack of this option, combined with the absence of a motion blur toggle, has been a major source of frustration for the console community. Reddit threads and social media feeds have been filled with players expressing their disappointment, with some even stating that the game is unplayable for them due to the visual discomfort it causes. As one frustrated player on the PS5 subreddit put it, “It’s kinda brutal, not gonna lie… The low FOV and motion blur makes it a motion sickness cocktail.” This level of negative feedback has put immense pressure on Gearbox to address the issue head-on.

Gearbox Listens: An Unprecedented Response

In a series of social media posts, Gearbox’s chief creative officer, Randy Pitchford, and the official Borderlands account have directly engaged with the community’s concerns. Initially, Pitchford’s comments were somewhat cryptic, hinting that an FOV setting could “affect fairness,” a statement that confused players given the game’s cross-play functionality and the fact that PC players already had the feature. However, the sheer volume of a player-led poll, where a staggering 72% voted for “FOV slider or GTFO!”, seems to have made the message crystal clear.

Following this, the official Borderlands account posted a definitive statement: “Vault Hunters! We have heard your feedback on FOV (Field of View) sliders on console. The team is currently exploring how to bring these sliders to both Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions. We will continue to read your feedback & prioritize game updates with your experience in mind.”

While this isn’t an outright confirmation that the feature is a done deal, it’s a powerful signal. In the past, console versions of games often received less attention for such “quality of life” features, often due to performance concerns. Increasing the FOV can put a greater strain on the console’s hardware, potentially impacting framerate. The fact that Gearbox is “exploring” the option suggests they are looking for a way to implement it without compromising the game’s performance, a technical challenge that many modern console games have already solved.

The Road to a Better Borderlands 4

The saga of the FOV slider is a microcosm of the challenges facing developers in the modern gaming landscape. Players’ expectations for accessibility and customization have never been higher, and what was once considered a PC-only feature is now seen as a necessity on consoles as well. Gearbox’s rapid response, acknowledging the issue and committing to find a solution, demonstrates a genuine commitment to its community.

For now, players can only wait and hope that the team’s efforts are successful. When a fix is implemented, it will be a major victory for accessibility and a significant step toward making Borderlands 4 a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for all players, regardless of their platform. The game’s future post-launch support, including the addition of new content and fixes, will be closely watched, but the early signs suggest that Gearbox is listening, and for many, that’s half the battle won.