Borderlands 3 free to play weekend launches amidst anniversary celebrations

(Image credit: Gearbox Software)

Borderlands 3 is free to play this weekend across PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia, letting anyone download and enjoy Gearbox's looter shooter sequel from now until this Sunday, August 9. 

Gearbox has announced the news during Borderlands 3 anniversary celebrations, which is commemorating its first birthday with a number of in-game events for existing players. 

The free-to-play version contains access to the entirety of Borderlands 3's base game, so you could even binge through the full campaign without paying a dime if you're fast enough. You won't be able to access any of the shooter's DLC, however, including the most recently released expansion, Bounty of Blood

Better yet, if you decide that you want to keep playing past this weekend, any progress you make in Borderlands 3's free to play version will carry over to your purchase of the full game, so long as you're on the same platform as before. 

The game is currently on sale across all digital marketplaces, too, so you'll be able to make a sweet discount if you decide to invest your cash into the Vault Hunter lifestyle.

More details of the free to play weekend, including the varied start and end times for each platform, can be found on Gearbox's latest blog post here. Oh, and if you're still looking for Borderlands 3 Shift Codes, we've got plenty of active ones available on our full list here. 

Stay up to date with all of the latest releases with our upcoming games 2020 list, or watch the video below for our latest episode of Dialogue Options. 

Alex Avard

I'm GamesRadar's Features Writer, which makes me responsible for gracing the internet with as many of my words as possible, including reviews, previews, interviews, and more. Lucky internet! 

Latest in Borderlands
One of the new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 release date set for September, and Gearbox has a dedicated reveal show coming this spring
Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters
Gearbox didn't set out to create an open-world game with Borderlands 4, but the FPS does have "open-world-like features, such as seamless travel between zones"
A mask in front of flames during the upcoming PS5 game, Borderlands 4.
In addition to "billions" of weapons, Borderlands 4 has "the deepest and most diverse skill trees" of any game in the series
A screenshot of the upcoming PC game, Borderlands 4.
Borderlands 4's tone sits somewhere between the first two games, which probably means less Skibidi Toilet and more Handsome Jack-style antics
One of the new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 moves beyond Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands as Gearbox promises "billions of weapons and accessories"
Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters
Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford is "testing Borderlands 4 on Steam," and just wanted to check and see if you can tell
Latest in News
channing tatum gambit in deadpool and wolverine
Marvel fans are hoping Channing Tatum's Gambit return in Avengers: Doomsday will be different from Deadpool and Wolverine
Final Fantasy 16 protagonist Clive uses magic in closeup screenshot
Despite fans begging for Tifa, Final Fantasy 16's Clive is "significantly more popular" than any other Tekken guest fighter
Spider-Man 4
There might be an obvious reason why Tom Holland's Spider-Man wasn't announced for Avengers: Doomsday
Patrick Stewart in X-Men
Marvel fans are already theorizing how Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and James Marsden's X-Men will be integrated into Avengers: Doomsday
Daredevil: Born Again episode 6
Daredevil's Charlie Cox isn't in the Avengers: Doomsday cast list – but Marvel fans have an idea about how he might still show up
Simu Liu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Simu Liu had the best reaction to Shang-Chi’s announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, but fans think it's "criminal" there hasn’t been a direct sequel