The first Bounty Pack for the video game Borderlands 4, titled "Bounty Pack 1: How Rush Saved Mercenary Day," has been made available to all players at no additional cost. This promotional offer was announced by the game's developer as a holiday gift to the player community. The pack is available to anyone who owns Borderlands 4, regardless of which edition of the game they purchased. It is not part of a subscription service or a promotional programme requiring a purchase of unrelated products. The offer is digital in nature, delivered directly through the game's software update system.
The release of this free content is part of a broader update to Borderlands 4's post-launch content plan. While the first Bounty Pack is free for all players, the developer has also announced an additional, fifth Bounty Pack for the year 2026. This new pack will be provided at no extra charge to players who originally purchased the Deluxe Edition, Super Deluxe Edition, or the Bounty Pack Bundle. This adjustment ensures that these paying customers continue to receive a total of five premium content packs. For all players, a new Takedown mission is also in development, set to be released as a free update in the following year.
Understanding the Bounty Pack Offer
The Bounty Pack is a specific type of downloadable content (DLC) for Borderlands 4. It is designed to provide additional gameplay elements, including new missions, cosmetic items, and gear. The developer has differentiated this content type from the larger, more substantial Story Packs. Each Bounty Pack is centred around a mission that culminates in a boss fight. The content is intended for players during the early to mid-game stages of their progression, allowing them to access new missions at any point in their journey. The narrative theme for each pack can vary, as demonstrated by the holiday theme of the first free pack.
The first Bounty Pack, "How Rush Saved Mercenary Day," follows a specific storyline where players assist the character Rush in confronting Minister Screw regarding the meaning of Mercenary Day. This pack was released to meet player demand for content by the end of the calendar year. The developer acknowledged that there was a significant amount of content to create and that making this initial pack free was a decision made in the "spirit of the season." The developer has stated an intention to ensure that future Bounty Packs will be "more fully loaded" with the content players have requested.
What is Included in the Free Bounty Pack
The free Bounty Pack 1 includes several distinct components that are unlocked for all players. The primary component is the mission content that guides players through the holiday-themed narrative. In addition to the mission, the pack includes a Vault Card. A Vault Card is a progression system within the game that allows players to earn rewards through gameplay. Specifically, this Vault Card contains four new pieces of rerollable gear and twenty-four new cosmetic items. These items are unlocked by completing challenges associated with the Vault Card.
The cosmetic items are likely character customisation options, such as skins or heads for the player's Vault Hunter. The gear represents new weapons or equipment that can be used in combat. The "rerollable" nature of the gear suggests that players may have some ability to modify or alter the statistics of this equipment, though the exact mechanics of this feature are not detailed in the source material. The combination of mission content, gear, and cosmetics provides a complete package of new gameplay elements at no cost to the player.
Eligibility and Access Requirements
The eligibility criteria for claiming this free content are straightforward and broadly inclusive. The offer is available to "all Borderlands 4 players." This phrasing indicates that the only requirement is ownership of the base game, Borderlands 4. There is no mention of any regional restrictions, such as being limited to players in the United Kingdom, the United States, or any other specific territory. The promotional announcement appears to be global, targeting the entire player base.
No purchase of additional content, such as the Deluxe or Super Deluxe Edition, is required to obtain Bounty Pack 1. It is explicitly free for all players, irrespective of their original purchase tier. There is also no requirement to sign up for a separate newsletter, complete surveys, or participate in any other marketing programme to gain access. The content is delivered directly through a game update, which is a standard process for modern video games. Players do not need to visit an external website or enter a code to receive the content; it is integrated into the game itself.
The Redemption Process: How to Claim the Pack
The process for obtaining and accessing the free Bounty Pack 1 is integrated into the game's normal operation. It does not involve a mail-in sample programme or a separate online claim form. The content was unlocked for all players via a specific game update that was released on November 20th at 9 AM Pacific Time (PT). The time zone specified is for the developer's location, but the update is deployed globally to all players' systems.
To claim the content, a player must first ensure their game is updated to the latest version. This is typically handled automatically by the console or PC platform's update system. Once the update is installed, the player must launch Borderlands 4 and enter the game world. Within the game, the new content is accessed by finding a specific in-game object. This object is described as a "gift-wrapped present." This present is marked on the player's in-game map as a new mission objective. The present can be found in any of the game's major hub areas.
Interacting with the gift-wrapped present initiates the mission to assist Rush. This action begins the "Bounty Pack 1: How Rush Saved Mercenary Day" storyline. The process is entirely digital and occurs within the confines of the game software. There is no physical item to be mailed or a separate online account to register. The update and the in-game trigger are the sole mechanisms for redemption.
Future Content and Paid Offerings
The developer has outlined a roadmap for future content that includes both free updates and paid expansions. A key free update in development is a new Takedown mission. Takedowns are typically high-difficulty, cooperative missions in the Borderlands series. This new Takedown is scheduled for release later in the following year and will be a free update available to all players, similar to the free Bounty Pack 1.
For players who have invested in the premium editions of the game, there is additional content planned. The developer announced a fifth Bounty Pack for release in 2026. This pack is a bonus addition for owners of the Deluxe Edition, Super Deluxe Edition, or the Bounty Pack Bundle. These players originally purchased a package that promised four premium Bounty Packs. With the first pack now being free for everyone, the developer is adding this fifth pack to ensure these customers still receive the equivalent of four paid content packs. The next paid content release is the first Story Pack, which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. Story Packs are described as the most substantial DLC, including a new Vault Hunter, new zones, and extensive mission content.
Distinguishing Between Free and Paid Content
It is important for consumers to understand the difference between the various content types available for Borderlands 4. The free content currently available consists of Bounty Pack 1 and the upcoming Takedown mission. These are provided to all players as a goodwill gesture and as part of the ongoing game support.
The paid content consists of the remaining Bounty Packs (starting from Pack 2 onwards) and the Story Packs. The Bounty Packs are smaller DLCs focused on missions and a Vault Card, while the Story Packs are major expansions. The pricing and exact release dates for future paid packs have not been specified in the provided sources. Consumers should refer to official storefronts like the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or Steam for precise pricing and availability in their region, such as the United Kingdom. The source material does not provide information on how to purchase these future paid packs, only that they are part of the planned content schedule.
Conclusion
The release of "Bounty Pack 1: How Rush Saved Mercenary Day" as a free offering for all Borderlands 4 players is a straightforward promotional gift. It requires only ownership of the base game and the installation of a standard game update. The redemption process is integrated into the game itself, with no external claims, surveys, or purchases necessary. The pack provides a complete set of new mission content, gear, and cosmetics. This offer is part of a larger content plan that includes free updates for all players and additional paid content for those who purchased premium editions. For UK-based players and all other regions, the process and eligibility remain the same, as the offer is global and digital.