Borderlands 4 players just got a surprise win today. Gearbox Software and 2K Games released Bounty Pack 1, a completely free DLC that adds new missions, a fresh boss encounter, brand-new Legendary loot, and multiple cosmetics — all landing right before the busiest gaming months of the year.

If you’ve been waiting for new content to bring you back into Borderlands 4, this update is exactly that.

Bounty Pack 1: How Rush Saved Mercenary Day is out now and FREE for all players. 🎁

👉 Once you've updated, find and interact with the gift-wrapped present (marked on your map as a new mission) in any major hub, which will initiate the mission to assist Rush. pic.twitter.com/m4J9aK38gP

— Borderlands (@Borderlands) November 20, 2025

What’s Inside Borderlands 4: Bounty Pack 1

The free DLC adds a mix of story, loot, and replayable content:

New Side Mission Line

A short quest chain built around bounty hunting, featuring new characters and lore that tie into the post-launch roadmap.

New Boss Fight: Razorjaw

A full enemy encounter designed for mid-to-late game players. Drops newly added Legendary gear.

Legendary Gear + Loot Pool Updates

• 2 new Legendary weapons
• 1 new Legendary shield
• Updated drop rates for several older Legendaries
• New unique world drops tied to the Razorjaw fight

New Cosmetics (Free)

Including a Vault Hunter outfit, weapon skins, and a vehicle theme.

Free for All Players

No season pass, no pre-order requirement — completely free across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.

Why Drop Free DLC Now? The Timing Isn’t Accidental

Borderlands is a massive holiday performer, and releasing content in late November is a player-retention strategy we’ve seen from major shooters all year.

Here’s why this timing matters:

1. Holiday Surge Prep

Millions of players jump back into major shooters between Thanksgiving and Christmas. New free DLC gives Borderlands 4 a reason to be part of that rotation.

2. Competing Against Other Big Releases

With Call of Duty, Halo seasonal content, and multiple Game Awards announcements hitting soon, Gearbox is making sure Borderlands stays visible in the news cycle.

3. Strengthening the Live-Service Model

Borderlands 4 blends traditional looter-shooter campaigns with live-service updates. Free DLC builds goodwill and boosts long-term player numbers, which helps future paid expansions land better.

4. Creators & Streamers Drive Post-Launch Health

New loot + new boss = tons of quick content for YouTube, TikTok, and livestreamers.

Expect to see “RAZORJAW BOSS RUNS” and “NEW LEGENDARIES TESTED” trending soon.

What This Means for Players

More reasons to return

The update isn’t massive, but it’s dense — enough to bring back casual players and give hardcore players new loot to chase.

Better early-game and late-game balance

Several hotfix tweaks arrived with the DLC to make the leveling curve smoother and the late-game loot grind faster.

More updates coming

Bounty Pack 1 is labeled intentionally — Gearbox is preparing multiple free content drops leading into early 2026.

Borderlands 4 Is Quietly Building Toward a Bigger Year

Bounty Pack 1 isn’t a massive expansion — but it’s a smart, strategic drop that signals a more frequent update cadence. If Gearbox keeps up the steady stream of free content, Borderlands 4 could see a significant resurgence early next year.

For now, the DLC is free, live, and absolutely worth diving into.