Borderlands 4 erupts as thirsty gooners take full advantage of Steam's free-to-play weekend offering

A year after its first launch, Borderlands 4 has reached its highest peak player count in nine months after dropping a thirsty new character alongside a free-to-play weekend.

Having launched with over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam in its opening weekend, Borderlands 4 has struggled to retain its player count, which was down to a low monthly best of 7,500 users on Steam in July, some 2.5 percent of its original peak.

The title was touted as one of the best instalments of the franchise, though. Our review rating of 8/10 echoed the voices of the masses as it hit a high of 81/100 on Metacritic

"It's bombastic, spectacular fun that puts the emphasis on the player to go out and have a brilliant time," our review explains.

"Whether taking on a raid boss with other players or free-roaming the world in search of adventure, I sat there with a big, stupid grin stuck on my face for literal hours afterwards. Any game that delivers out-and-out fun at the rate of Borderlands 4 deserves its flowers, and it lives up to the reputation that the previous games so carefully built."

Now, Borderlands 4 is back on the rise, as a new DLC and a free-access window have quadrupled its Steam count.

Borderlands 4 peaks during Steam free-to-play weekend

The open-world looter shooter has become a hit again in September as Steam users have completely free access to Borderlands 4 until September 14.

As part of Steam's free-to-play weekend services, players who have never touched Borderlands can get access to the full game without spending a penny.

Yet it's worth noting that this offer differs from Steam's free-to-keep giveaways, as this free access window will expire on September 14, when players will then have to buy the full game to continue playing - although, if you take up arms this weekend and find you're having a blast, the game is 50 percent off on Steam too.

While the free weekend is surely benefiting the Steam numbers, there's also another reason for the resurgence... Loveless.

Loveless sends gooners into a frenzy

Borderlands 4's newest heroine is Loveless, and the new DLC character has quickly won fans over with her skin-baring outfits.

Cut from the same cloth (just not much of it) as Marvel Rivals and Stellar Blade's thirst-traps, Loveless bares no protection on her legs and rump, aside from a wavy cape that only sometimes mars the view - and, typical of the 'sex sells' strapline, the Targaryen-looking gothic badass is enhanced in all of the places you'd expect.

Of course, that means that players have instantly lost their minds.

"Loveless who's a mashup of, Sabrina Carpenter, Viper, and Chun Li's bottom half, is a true return to form lmao," one person said on X.

Another added, "Mind you, I’m 30 minutes in still haven’t left photo mode."

A third person said, "Still foaming at the mouth over her," on X.

The player count is still growing stronger too. "Everyone is gooning over the new vault hunter Loveless in Borderlands 4 and I’m about to join in (my game is updating as we speak)," a fourth person added.

The drooling chins really do need wiping, and god knows what else.

The Loveless DLC does cost $9.99 though, so free-to-play window users will have to dig into their budget if they are looking for a very cheek-y session this weekend.

Nakedness aside, Loveless does have a lot of fun perks in her kit that true Borderlands 4 fans will enjoy too.