Borderlands 4 Officially Licensed Wireless Xbox Controller Releases Alongside The Game

Borderlands 4 launches this Friday, September 12, and if you’re planning on getting Gearbox’s latest FPS for Xbox Series X|S or PC, you may be interested in a new officially licensed controller. PowerA’s Borderlands Special Edition Wireless Controller launches the same day for $100. The controller is themed around Borderlands 4’s main antagonist The Timekeeper. The dictator of the planet Kairos, The Timekeeper leads the ruling faction known as The Order. The orange and black color scheme looks great, and the controller also has some familiar iconography, including the Borderlands logo and the mask worn by the Psycho on the cover of the new game.

Officially licensed by Gearbox and and Microsoft, the Borderlands-themed gamepad has the form factor of the first-party Xbox Wireless Controller and customization features that make it a budget-friendly alternative to the Elite Series 2. This is the third PowerA Special Edition Xbox Controller themed around a specific game or franchise. A Fortnite-themed model launched last fall and is on sale for 50% off, and a nostalgic Pac-Man-inspired edition debuted earlier this year.

$100 | Releases September 12

PowerA’s Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller offers an impressive list of features for the price. We tested the Fortnite model last year, and it’s easily the best controller from PowerA we’ve used. It has Hall Effect sticks and triggers. Not only are the triggers built with Microsoft’s Impulse Trigger technology, but pull distance can be adjusted by flipping locking switches on the back. There are three stopping points, including the default Impulse Triggers. The most restrictive setting turns the triggers into rapid-fire buttons.

Four remappable back buttons are located on the back of the textured, rubberized grips. You can remap inputs without an app using the Map AGB button between the trigger locks. Directly below the mapping button is Profiles, which lets you cycle through three control layouts that you save to the controller using PowerA’s Gamer HQ App on Xbox or PC. The app also lets you customize stick and trigger sensitivity, adjust rumble intensity, create stick dead zones, and tweak audio settings for gaming with a wired headset using the controller’s 3.5mm audio jack. There’s also a volume/chat dial on the front, and you’ll find the usual Xbox buttons, including the Guide button, Profile, and Share.

PowerA’s pro-style controller connects wirelessly to Xbox consoles and P via the included low-latency 2.4GHz USB adapter. You can get up to 30 hours of battery life on a full charge. It charges via USB-C and includes a 10-foot cable that can also be connected to your console/PC for wired play.

Key features:

• USB 2.4GHz wireless for Xbox and PC
• Rubberized grips
• Hall Effect Sticks
• Four remappable back buttons
• Hall Effect Impulse Triggers
• Trigger locks with three stopping points
• Profiles button: Stores three custom control profiles
• Map AGB button: Remap back buttons on the fly
• Official Xbox menu buttons: Profile, Share, View, Menu, Guide
• Up to 30 hours of battery life
• 10-foot USB-C charging cable (also for wired play)
• Volume dial for wired headset
• Dual rumble motors
• Customize settings with PowerA Gamer HQ App
  • Button mapping
  • Trigger and stick sensitivity
  • Dead zones
  • Rumble intensity
  • Audio

If you still need to preorder a copy of Borderlands 4, there are multiple physical editions to choose from for PS5 and Xbox Series X. The standard edition is available for $70, while the $130 Super Deluxe Edition includes a ton of DLC, including extra missions, boss fights, and two forthcoming story expansions. You can also still preorder the GameStop-exclusive Echo-4 Bundle for $150. This is one of those collector’s editions that doesn’t include the game, so make sure you buy a copy of Borderlands 4 alongside it.

It’s worth noting that the aforementioned Pac-Man and Fortnite Special Edition PowerA controllers are available for discounted prices at Amazon. The Fortnite Special Edition is on sale for only $51 (was $100). It’s a white controller with red and black graffiti outlines. You’ll also get a voucher for the Tooth Pick Pickaxe in-game item to redeem in Fortnite. Getting this controller for $51 is an absolute bargain, so Fortnite fans should grab it while they can.

The Pac-Man Special Edition is available for $84 (was $100) and has a really cool bonus feature. Designed to look like a maze in the classic arcade game, the controller has glow-in-the-dark and UV light effects that alters the look of the Ghost Gang and other elements. Surprisingly, PowerA’s Pac-Man Edition Enhanced Wireless Controller for Switch 1/2, which is on sale for $53 (was $65), is even cooler. It has four different lighting modes that display key moments throughout a round of Pac-Man.

Microsoft also recently partnered with 8BitDo on a gorgeous wireless controller to commemorate Rare’s 40th anniversary. The 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode: Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is the popular third-party manufacturer’s first wireless Xbox controller. It has a stylish royal blue color scheme with gold accents. Notable features include two remappable back buttons, Hall Effect sticks, a metal D-pad, a matching charging dock, and a customization app of its own on Xbox and PC. You can store up to three profiles on the 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Controller. The Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is available for $90 at Amazon.