Hey Vault Hunters! Welcome to “This Week on Kairos” - a weekly post where we share everything happening across the world of Borderlands 4, from developer updates to community highlights and beyond.

Every Friday, we’ll be here with the latest news, fan creations, dev spotlights, helpful resources, and anything else we think you’ll want to see. Whether you're looking to catch up, dive deeper, or just see what your fellow players are up to, this is the place.

We’ve rolled out several updates since launch, with more coming soon. Here’s what you may have missed:

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/news/app/1285190/view/585031094705848475

A guide on how to submit a ticket can be found here:

https://steamproxy.net/app/1285190/discussions/2/673972930559959886/

When you submit a ticket, please remember to attach your DxDiag or MSinfo file. If you need assistance with doing that, here’s a walkthrough:

https://support.borderlands.com/hc/en-us/articles/44564441894291-PC-How-do-I-attach-a-DxDiag-and-MSinfo-file

(Note: This section is going to be structured the same each week, so although it looks the same, rest assured it’s being updated weekly!)

We love celebrating players and their big wins. Here are a couple community members who unlocked IRL achievements:

This week’s theme: PUMPKINS! You all came up with some great jack-o'-lantern designs, and we want to show off a few of them.

u/lanky_sin

Squamatha[www.twitch.tv]

Ghost4Rider

As you take screenshots and drop them in Steam, we’ll round up a few of our favorites for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy the beauty of chaos - er, I mean, Kairos!

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3595937149https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3593946582https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3594439831https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3593790578

Every week, we’re spotlighting one of the minds behind the mayhem. You’ll get to learn about folks from both Gearbox and 2K, and how each person who touches the game both influences and is influenced by Borderlands 4. This week, we're talking with Jeff Mott, 2K’s Test Manager:

What does “quality” mean to you beyond the checklist? How do you know when a game feels right?

Jeff:  To me, quality means doing our best to meet customer expectations. It isn't about finding every bug anymore; that's an impossible task. Games are simply too big and they're ever-changing. It's about finding the bugs that matter and advocating on behalf of the customer to get them fixed.

For me, achieving this goal comes down to collaboration and experience. There isn't a single person making this call; it's a discussion, backed up by data from multiple groups, to ultimately decide when something feels ready.

How do you make sure engineering decisions empower (not limit) art and design teams?

Jeff: This is all about finding the right balance. When a tester is new or at least new to a project, they need more guidance. And test cases are great for that. It helps them get familiar with what they're testing and become more comfortable with the game while contributing to vital tests we need to run. Once they're settled in, you start to give them the freedom and encouragement to go out and test with less direction, while still guiding them to try new things. 

I think this is crucial for broad test coverage, as different testers have different talents. One tester might be great at finding issues with balance and enemy behavior, another may be a natural at finding ways to break mission progress. Helping them identify and realize what they're good at, then giving them the freedom and support they need to shine, is how you build a great test team.

How do you personally handle the repetition and rigor of testing without burning out?

Jeff: One of the keys here is to remind yourself that we're all people and that people need breaks. Even if you love your job, you need time to set the work aside and recharge the batteries. At the end of the day, we're making something fun that we get to put into the hands of other people to enjoy, and that's just awesome! 

The other key is to build a team where no single person is a point of failure. No one should feel like if they take some time off, everything will fall apart. If that's true, then you haven't built a strong team. Having a support structure where anyone can take the time off they need and not worry that they'll come back to a disaster is how you avoid burnout. And I'm proud to say I've got that kind of team around me.

Our community members aren’t just gamers—many of you are also artists. Whether it’s cosplay, digital art, or some yet-to-be-invented medium, we’re your biggest fans. Check out this week’s hand-picked fan creations:

hyde4lyfe[www.tumblr.com]

rism1223[www.instagram.com]

krotiation[www.tumblr.com]

That’s it for this week—with more updates, more chaos, and maybe a few surprises coming next Friday. Until then: keep your ECHOnet tuned and your loot luck high.

Happy Hunting,
The Borderlands Team

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/1285190/Borderlands_4/