Borderlands 4 Update Drops Denuvo Protection
2K Games and Gearbox have released an update that strips Denuvo from Borderlands 4, more than a year after the PC version launched. The patch also addresses audio, visual, menu, and Photo Mode problems while adding a Steam Deck option. It marks a rare Denuvo removal by 2K, since the publisher's NBA 2K titles still use the technology.
Borderlands 4 arrived on PC in September 2025, so this change comes more than a year later. The same patch also repairs missing dialogue, subtitles, audio filters, textures, lighting, NPC animation, HUD icons, and Photo Mode behavior. It adds an AMD FSR toggle for Steam Deck through the system performance menu and reduces pop-in, rumble, and screen shake.
2K has seldom stripped Denuvo from its releases; its NBA 2K line still carries it. By contrast, Square Enix and Capcom have removed the software from multiple older titles, including Final Fantasy 16, Resident Evil Village, and several others.
For PC players, modders, and preservation-minded users, dropping Denuvo could improve access, offline play, and long-term usability, though the immediate effect may be modest. Steam Deck owners may benefit from the added FSR option. Publishers may watch whether removal changes sales or sentiment. The move could also shape expectations around anti-tamper software, but it is unlikely alone to alter broader industry practice.