Platforms: PC (Windows, macOS), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch (Ultimate Edition)
Unique Feature: Bazillions of procedurally generated guns, four distinct Vault Hunter classes with deep skill trees, signature cel-shaded art style and humor, multi-planet exploration, robust co-op gameplay.
FL4K's Pets (Skag, Spiderant, Jabber): FL4K, the Beastmaster, can choose one of three loyal pets to fight alongside them. Each pet has unique abilities, attacks, and can be upgraded through FL4K's skill trees. Pets can draw aggro, deal damage, and provide buffs. They are a core part of FL4K's gameplay.
Various alien creatures
Moze's Iron Bear: Moze, the Gunner, can summon her bipedal Iron Bear mech as an Action Skill. Iron Bear is equipped with customizable heavy weapons on each arm (e.g., miniguns, grenade launchers, railguns, flamethrowers, melee fists) and provides significant firepower and protection for a limited time.
Mech Suit
Zane's SNTNL Drone & Digi-Clone: Zane, the Operative, can deploy a SNTNL combat drone that flies around attacking enemies with machine guns or rockets. He can also deploy a Digi-Clone of himself that distracts enemies and fires at them; Zane can swap places with his clone. These are Action Skills with cooldowns.
Robotic Drone / Holographic Clone
Co-op Player Characters (Vault Hunters): In co-operative multiplayer, other players join as their chosen Vault Hunters, each with their own unique skills and abilities, acting as active companions.
Human/Siren/Robot
Temporary AI Allies (Rakyat Warriors): During certain missions, outpost liberations, or if Jason helps Rakyat patrols, they will fight alongside him. They are not controllable and their effectiveness varies. Far Cry 3 does not feature persistent, commandable companions like in later titles (e.g., Guns for Hire or Fangs for Hire).
Human
Co-op Campaign Teammates (Online): In the separate 4-player online cooperative campaign, players team up as four distinct characters (Callum, Leonard, Mikhail, Tisha) each with some unique dialogue, but functionally similar gameplay abilities based on shared progression within co-op.
Human (Player Characters)
Key Collectibles
Typhon Logs & Dead Drops: Audio logs left by the first Vault Hunter, Typhon DeLeon, detailing his adventures and discoveries. Finding all three logs in a zone reveals the location of a Typhon Dead Drop, a hidden loot cache.
Eridian Writings: Ancient alien texts scattered across the planets. After acquiring an Eridian Analyzer, players can decipher these writings to gain XP and Eridium, and uncover more lore about the Eridians and Vaults.
Dead Claptraps: Parts from deceased Claptrap units that can be salvaged to help Claptrap build a new friend. Each part provides Eridium.
Crew Challenges (Various Types): A category of collectibles and repeatable activities specific to different NPCs and planets. Includes:
- **Legendary Hunts:** (Sir Hammerlock) Defeating unique, powerful creatures.
- **Targets of Opportunity:** (Zer0) Assassinating specific high-value targets.
- **Crimson Radio:** (Moxxi) Sabotaging Children of the Vault propaganda towers.
- **Hijack Target:** (Ellie) Stealing specific vehicle parts to unlock them for the Catch-A-Ride system.
Red Chests: Special chests containing higher-quality loot, often found in hidden areas or at the end of dungeons/challenges.
Vault Symbols & Eridium Piles: Hidden Vault symbols that can be found, and destructible Eridium crystal piles that yield Eridium currency (used for cosmetics and end-game purchases).
Relics (Spider, Heron, Shark, Boar Statues): Small, ancient idols hidden throughout the Rook Islands in caves, underwater, or remote locations. Each relic type corresponds to a Tatau skill tree. Collecting them grants XP, and finding all of certain types can unlock Signature Weapons.
Letters of the Lost: Notes written by Japanese soldiers who were stranded on the Rook Islands during World War II. They tell a grim story of their survival attempts and descent into madness. Collecting them provides lore and XP.
Memory Cards: SD cards dropped by deceased tourists or pirates. Collecting them unlocks data logs (audio or text) that offer small, often dark or humorous, vignettes about other people's experiences on the islands. Grants XP.
The core of Borderlands: 'bazillions' of guns with randomly generated parts, stats, elemental effects (Incendiary, Shock, Corrosive, Cryo, Radiation), and special properties. Guns come in different rarities (Common to Legendary/Pearlescent). Anointed gear grants powerful bonuses tied to Action Skill usage.
Each manufacturer has unique traits: **Jakobs** (high critical damage, ricocheting bullets, old-west aesthetic), **Maliwan** (elemental damage focus, charge-up times, dual elements), **Tediore** (guns are thrown like grenades when reloaded, then digistruct a new one), **Hyperion** (accuracy increases with sustained fire, deployable weapon shields when aiming), **Torgue** (explosive projectiles, sticky mode), **Dahl** (alternate fire modes - burst, full-auto, semi-auto), **Vladof** (high fire rate, under-barrel attachments like rockets/shotguns), **Atlas** (tracker tags for homing bullets), **COV (Children of the Vault)** ('infinite' ammo with overheat mechanic instead of traditional reloads).
Grenade Mods: Throwable Explosive/Utility
Various grenade mods with diverse effects, including singularities, MIRVs (multiple explosions), transfusions (health stealing), elemental damage, and utility effects like teleportation or enemy grouping.
Shields: Defensive Gear
Provide a regenerating energy shield that absorbs damage before health is affected. Shields have various capacities, recharge rates, recharge delays, and can have special properties like elemental resistance/nova bursts, damage boosting, or health regeneration.
Class Mods: Character Augment Gear
Equippable items specific to each Vault Hunter class. They provide boosts to specific skills (even allowing skills to be over-leveled) and often grant passive stat increases or unique class-specific perks.
Artifacts: Utility Gear
Provide powerful passive bonuses, often affecting movement (like enabling slam or slide anointments), elemental damage, melee damage, or providing unique utility effects like health regeneration or loot quality improvements.
Pistols: Sidearm (Semi-Auto, Revolver)
Includes models like the 1911, .44 Magnum, D50, and the flare gun. Customizable with suppressors, sights, and extended magazines. Essential backup weapons.
High rate-of-fire weapons like the Skorpion, A2000 (P90), Vector .45 ACP, MP5. Effective in close-quarters combat, customizable.
Assault Rifles: Automatic/Semi-Auto (Versatile)
Staple weapons like the AK-47, P416 (HK416), STG-90 (SIG SG 550), ACE (Galil ACE), F1 (FAMAS). Good all-rounders for various engagement distances.
Shotguns: Close Quarters (High Damage)
Includes pump-action (M133) and semi-auto (SPAS-12) shotguns. Devastating at close range.
Sniper Rifles: Long Range (Precision)
Bolt-action (SVD, M-700) and semi-auto (.Z93) sniper rifles for taking out targets from a distance. Customizable with high-powered scopes and suppressors.
Weapons like the PKM, U100 (Ultimax 100), MKG. Large magazine capacity for sustained fire, good against groups or vehicles.
Launchers: Explosive (Anti-Vehicle/Crowd Control)
RPG-7 rocket launcher and GL-94 grenade launcher. Effective against vehicles and enemy encampments.
Bows (Recurve Bow): Silent Ranged
A powerful and silent weapon. Can use standard, fire, or explosive arrows, which are craftable. Ideal for stealthy approaches and hunting.
Signature Weapons: Unique Pre-Modded
Special, enhanced versions of standard weapons with unique names, appearances, and superior stats (e.g., The Shredder, The Bull, AMR, Shadow). Unlocked by completing specific objectives like liberating radio towers or finding relics.
Melee Weapons: Close Quarters (Takedowns)
Primarily the Machete for standard melee attacks and a variety of brutal takedown animations. Throwing knives are also available.
Shields: Primary defensive gear. Shields have varying capacities, recharge rates, recharge delays, and can possess special properties from different manufacturers (e.g., Pangolin - high capacity; Anshin - elemental resistance; Hyperion - amp damage on depletion). Legendary and unique shields offer powerful, build-defining effects.
Class Mods: Class-specific items that grant points to skills in the Vault Hunter's skill trees (potentially pushing them beyond their normal maximum) and provide additional passive stat bonuses or unique perks that synergize with specific builds.
Artifacts: Equippable Eridian artifacts that provide significant passive bonuses and unique effects. These can include elemental damage boosts, improved slide/slam mechanics, increased luck, health regeneration effects, or anointments that trigger on action skill use or other conditions.
Crafted Gear Upgrades (Capacity): Jason Brody does not equip traditional armor pieces for direct damage reduction. Instead, he crafts upgrades to his equipment using animal skins obtained from hunting. This includes: Weapon Holsters (to carry more weapons), Ammo Pouches (for specific ammo types), Wallet (to carry more money), Loot Rucksack, Syringe Kit, Grenade Pouch, Molotov Pouch, C4 Pouch, Mine Pouch, and Arrow Quiver. These upgrades are crucial for increasing combat readiness and carrying capacity.
Body Armor (Consumable): Players can purchase Body Armor from shops or find it in the environment. This provides an additional, non-regenerating health bar (typically blue) that absorbs damage before Jason's actual health. It needs to be replenished after taking damage. It's a crucial consumable for survivability in tougher fights.
Outfits/Customization
Vault Hunter Heads: Unlockable and purchasable cosmetic heads that change the appearance of the player character's head. A wide variety of styles are available, from serious to outlandish.
Vault Hunter Skins: Cosmetic skins that alter the color scheme and patterns of the Vault Hunter's default outfit. Can be unlocked through gameplay, purchased, or obtained via special events and DLCs (e.g., Multiverse Final Form & Disciples of the Vault Cosmetic Packs).
Weapon Skins: Cosmetic skins that can be applied to weapons to change their appearance without affecting stats. Examples include the Butt Stallion weapon skin or Gold Weapon Skins Pack (pre-order/deluxe bonuses).
Weapon Trinkets: Small cosmetic charms that can be attached to weapons for personalization.
ECHO Device Skins: Cosmetic skins to change the appearance of the player's ECHO communication device.
Room Decorations (Sanctuary III): Players can find and place various decorations in their personal quarters aboard the Sanctuary III spaceship.
Default Outfit: Jason Brody wears a consistent outfit throughout most of the game (a t-shirt, cargo pants). His physical appearance, particularly the Tatau (tattoos) on his arm, evolves as he gains skills, visually representing his progression and transformation into a warrior. There are no significant clothing customization options for Jason in the main campaign.
Multiplayer/Co-op Outfits: In the competitive multiplayer and cooperative campaign modes, players could customize their character's appearance with different outfits, headgear, and body paint, unlocked through progression or DLC packs.
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Progression & Upgrades
Skills & Progression
N/A
Jason Brody's progression is tied to the Tatau, a series of mystical tattoos that expand as he gains experience and unlocks skills. Skills are divided into three trees: The Heron (long-range combat, mobility, stealth), The Shark (assault tactics, takedowns, health), and The Spider (survival, crafting, hunting). Skill points are earned by gaining XP from missions, liberating outposts, hunting, and finding collectibles. Crafting is vital for upgrading gear capacity (weapon holsters, ammo pouches, loot rucksacks, syringe kits, etc.) using animal skins hunted from the islands' diverse wildlife. Syringes can also be crafted from plants to provide healing or temporary combat buffs.
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World & Exploration
World & Level Design
N/A
The Rook Islands consist of two main islands: the North Island and the South Island. The North Island, where the game primarily begins, is controlled by Vaas's pirates and is characterized by lush jungles, beaches, and pirate outposts. The South Island, unlocked later, is controlled by Hoyt Volker's private military company and features more rugged terrain, savannahs, and heavily fortified bases. The total map size is substantial, offering diverse environments for exploration and combat.
Playable Vehicles
Outrunner: Light Buggy / All-Terrain Vehicle
A fast and versatile two-seater buggy, a staple of the Borderlands series. Customizable with different chassis, weapons (machine guns, rockets), armor, wheels, and paint jobs via the Catch-A-Ride system.
Technical: Armed Truck / Utility Vehicle
A heavier, more durable vehicle often equipped with a rear-mounted turret. Can carry more passengers. Also customizable with various weapons and parts.
Cyclone: Monowheel Combat Vehicle
A fast, agile single-wheel vehicle capable of strafing and high speeds. Offers unique offensive capabilities and maneuverability. Customizable with different weapon systems and mods.
Vehicles used by enemy factions like the Children of the Vault. Often ramshackle, heavily armed, and can be commandeered by the player. Some can be scanned at a Catch-A-Ride to unlock their parts for player vehicle customization.
Unique hover-capable wheels found in 'Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot' DLC, allowing vehicles to float over certain surfaces.
Jetbeast (DLC - Bounty of Blood): Customizable Hoverbike
A heavily armed and customizable hoverbike introduced in the 'Bounty of Blood' DLC, used for traversing the plains of Gehenna.
Land Vehicles (Cars, Trucks, Jeeps, ATVs): Ground Vehicle
A variety of land vehicles including civilian cars (like sedans and hatchbacks), rugged pickup trucks, open-top jeeps (some with mounted machine guns), and agile ATVs/quad bikes. Used for traversing the islands' road networks and off-road terrain.
Watercraft (Patrol Boats, Jet Skis, Inflatable Rafts): Water Vehicle
Used for navigating the waters surrounding and within the Rook Islands. Includes armed patrol boats, fast jet skis for quick traversal, and basic inflatable rafts.
Aircraft (Hang Gliders): Air Vehicle (Light/Gliding)
Hang gliders are found at specific elevated locations across the islands. They allow Jason to glide silently over large distances, useful for stealthy infiltration or quick descents from mountains.
Wingsuit: Personal Traversal (Gliding)
Unlocked via the skill tree, the Wingsuit allows Jason to perform high-speed glides after jumping from significant heights (cliffs, radio towers, hang gliders). Essential for rapid traversal and accessing remote areas. Requires a parachute (also an unlock) for safe landings.
Ziplines: Fixed Traversal
Found throughout the Rook Islands, ziplines allow for quick descents between elevated points or across gaps.
Hostile (Dogs, Rabid Dogs, some Snakes) or Neutral/Prey, Hunting Resource (Skins, Feathers for crafting various gear upgrades).
Special Animals (Golden Tiger, Undying Bear, One Horn Buffalo, Black Panther, White Belly Tapir, Yellow Neck Cassowary, Maneater Shark, Blood Komodo): Rare Variants
Targets for 'Path of the Hunter' side quests, provide unique skins for crafting top-tier gear upgrades.
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Story & Characters
Main Characters
Amara (The Siren): Playable Vault Hunter
A renowned hero from Partali, Amara is a powerful Siren who can summon ethereal fists to pummel her enemies. Her action skills focus on elemental damage, crowd control, and melee combat (Phasegrasp, Phaseslam, Phasecast).
FL4K (The Beastmaster): Playable Vault Hunter
An emergent AI robot on a quest of self-discovery, accompanied by one of three loyal pets (Skag, Spiderant, Jabber) that assist in combat. FL4K excels at critical hits, stealth (Fade Away), and commanding their beasts (Gamma Burst, Rakk Attack!).
Moze (The Gunner): Playable Vault Hunter
A former Vladof soldier who can digistruct and pilot her heavily armed Iron Bear mech. Moze's skill trees allow customization of Iron Bear's weaponry (miniguns, grenade launchers, railguns, etc.) and focus on explosives, shields, or infinite ammo.
Zane Flynt (The Operative): Playable Vault Hunter
A semi-retired corporate hitman from the Flynt family. Zane utilizes various gadgets like a SNTNL drone, a Digi-Clone, and a deployable Barrier. He is unique in his ability to equip two Action Skills simultaneously by sacrificing his grenade slot.
Tyreen Calypso: Main Antagonist / Siren
One of the Calypso Twins and a powerful Siren. She leads the Children of the Vault cult with her brother Troy, seeking to absorb the power of Vaults across the galaxy. Known for her live-streaming persona and ability to leech power.
Troy Calypso: Main Antagonist / 'God-King'
Tyreen's twin brother and co-leader of the Children of the Vault. He was born conjoined to Tyreen and possesses some Siren-like powers by siphoning her energy. He is ambitious and seeks to prove himself.
Lilith (The Firehawk): NPC / Leader of the Crimson Raiders / Siren
A returning character from previous Borderlands games and a powerful Siren. She leads the Crimson Raiders in their fight against the Calypso Twins and commands the starship Sanctuary III.
The famously annoying but occasionally helpful Claptrap unit, a series staple. Provides introductory guidance and comic relief.
Patricia Tannis: NPC / Scientist & Eridian Expert
A brilliant but socially awkward scientist specializing in Eridian technology and Vault lore. She plays a key role in understanding the Vaults and the Calypsos' plans.
Ellie: NPC / Mechanic
Moxxi's daughter and a skilled mechanic responsible for the Catch-A-Ride vehicle system on Sanctuary III and various planets.
Marcus Kincaid: NPC / Arms Dealer
The owner of Marcus Munitions, the primary weapon vending machines throughout the Borderlands universe.
Jason Brody: Protagonist
An American tourist on vacation with his friends and brothers who gets captured by pirates. Initially an ordinary young man, he is forced to adapt and become a warrior to survive, rescue his friends, and exact revenge. His journey explores his descent into violence and potential madness as he embraces the Rakyat's ways and the power of the Tatau.
The psychopathic, charismatic, and unpredictable leader of the pirates on the North Island. He is Citra's brother. Vaas is known for his iconic 'Definition of Insanity' monologue and serves as Jason's primary tormentor in the early to mid-game. Voiced by Michael Mando.
Hoyt Volker: Main Antagonist / Human Trafficker & Drug Lord
A cold, calculating, and ruthless South African warlord who controls the South Island. He runs a vast operation involving slavery, drug trafficking, and commands a well-equipped private military. He is the ultimate target of Jason's revenge.
Citra Talugmai: Rakyat Leader / Potential Ally & Antagonist
The enigmatic and beautiful priestess leader of the indigenous Rakyat tribe and Vaas's sister. She sees potential in Jason and guides him through the trials of the Tatau, grooming him to be the ultimate warrior for her cause. Her motives are complex and manipulative.
Dennis Rogers: Ally / Rakyat Mentor
A Liberian immigrant who has integrated into the Rakyat tribe. He rescues Jason after his initial escape and serves as his first guide and mentor, teaching him basic survival skills and introducing him to the Rakyat's customs and Citra.
Dr. Alec Earnhardt: Ally (Eccentric Doctor)
An eccentric, drug-addicted doctor living on the islands who provides shelter and medical aid to Jason and his friends. He has a tragic past and offers philosophical, albeit often drug-fueled, insights.
Sam Becker: Ally / Undercover Agent
A German-born, American-raised CIA operative working undercover within Hoyt Volker's private military. He befriends Jason and provides crucial intelligence and assistance in infiltrating Hoyt's operations on the South Island.
Buck Hughes: Minor Antagonist / Mercenary
A sadistic Australian mercenary working for Hoyt, known for his depraved tastes. Jason is forced to deal with him to rescue one of his friends.
Liza Snow, Oliver Carswell, Keith Ramsay, Daisy Lee, Riley Brody, Grant Brody: Supporting Characters / Hostages
The group of friends and Jason's brothers who were captured alongside him. Rescuing them is Jason's primary motivation for much of the game. Their reactions to Jason's transformation are a key part of the story.
Example Missions
Main Story Campaign
A series of narrative quests following the new Vault Hunters as they join the Crimson Raiders to stop the Calypso Twins and their Children of the Vault cult from opening The Great Vault and gaining ultimate power. This journey spans multiple planets.
Side Missions
Numerous optional quests found on each planet, offered by various NPCs. These often involve unique stories, characters, and rewards, expanding the lore and providing XP and loot.
Crew Challenges
A set of planet-specific collectible and combat challenges issued by various crew members of Sanctuary III (e.g., Sir Hammerlock's Legendary Hunts, Zer0's Targets of Opportunity, Moxxi's Crimson Radio sabotage, Ellie's Hijack Targets, Claptrap's Dead Claptrap parts, Typhon DeLeon's Logs and Dead Drops). Completing these provides Eridium, XP, and contributes to area completion.
Proving Grounds (Eridian Trials)
End-game timed dungeon-like instances unlocked by finding Eridian Writings. Players fight through waves of enemies and a final boss within a time limit to earn high-quality loot. Different Proving Grounds offer unique challenges.
Circles of Slaughter
Wave-based survival arenas where players fight increasingly difficult hordes of enemies. Completing all rounds yields significant XP and loot. Examples include Cistern of Slaughter, Slaughter Shaft, Slaughterstar 3000.
DLC Campaign Missions
Each of the four main story DLCs (Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, Guns, Love, and Tentacles, Bounty of Blood, Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck) features its own new campaign with unique storylines, locations, enemies, and bosses.
Arms Race (Designer's Cut DLC)
A roguelike game mode where players start with no gear in a new zone (Stormblind Complex), scavenge for weapons, and fight to extract high-quality loot before being killed by enemies or an encroaching storm (Murdercane).
Ava's Murder Mysteries (Director's Cut DLC)
A series of story-driven side missions where players help Ava investigate potentially paranormal happenings and uncover a conspiracy across multiple planets.
Hemovorous the Invincible (Director's Cut DLC)
A challenging end-game raid boss encounter, requiring Eridium to access. Defeating this massive Varkid offers some of the best loot in the game.
Main Story Campaign (Jason Brody's Journey)
A series of narrative missions following Jason Brody's transformation from a captured tourist to a hardened warrior. Objectives include rescuing his kidnapped friends, allying with the Rakyat tribe, confronting Vaas Montenegro and his pirates, and eventually taking on Hoyt Volker and his private military to dismantle their operations on the Rook Islands.
Radio Tower Activation
Climb and activate dilapidated radio towers scattered across the Rook Islands. Activating a tower de-jammers a section of the world map, revealing nearby points of interest, collectibles, and outposts. It also makes weapons from the local gun shops available for free.
Outpost Liberation
Clear out pirate or privateer controlled outposts. This involves eliminating all enemies within the outpost, ideally stealthily for bonus XP. Liberating an outpost turns it into a Rakyat safe zone, unlocks fast travel, provides new side missions, and reduces enemy presence in the surrounding area. Outposts can be reset via game options to be replayed.
Path of the Hunter Quests
Side missions that task Jason with hunting specific, often rare or dangerous, animals using a designated weapon (e.g., hunt a Golden Tiger with a bow). Completing these quests rewards Jason with unique animal skins required to craft the highest-tier gear upgrades.
Wanted Dead Quests
Bounty hunting missions where Jason must track down and eliminate specific pirate or privateer leaders using a designated weapon (often a Machete for a stealth kill). Provides XP and money.
Story of the Rakyat (Trials of the Rakyat)
Side missions given by Citra or other Rakyat members that often involve spiritual trials, tests of skill, or tasks related to Rakyat traditions. These can reward unique skills or insights into the local culture.
Supply Drop Quests
Timed vehicle-based missions where Jason must race to a designated location to collect a supply drop before time runs out, often navigating difficult terrain and avoiding enemies.
Cooperative Campaign Missions (Online)
A separate 6-chapter story campaign for up to 4 players online, following four new characters (Callum, Leonard, Mikhail, Tisha) as they seek revenge on their former ship captain. Missions involve objective-based combat scenarios.
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Multiplayer
Multiplayer Details
N/A
1. Cooperative Campaign (4 Players): A distinct story campaign following four new characters (Callum, Leonard, Mikhail, Tisha) seeking revenge against their former captain who sold them into slavery. 2. Competitive Multiplayer (up to 14 players): Featured modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, Firestorm (capture points and ignite enemy fuel depots), and Transmission (capture radio transmitters). Players could use battle cries for temporary team buffs. A Map Editor was also included, allowing players to create and share their own multiplayer maps.
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Editions & DLC
Available Editions
N/A
Far Cry 3 had several editions: Standard Edition, The Lost Expeditions Edition (included 2 bonus missions and a Japanese Type 10 flare gun), Insane Edition (Collector's Edition with a Vaas Wahine bobblehead, survival guide, digital content including 'Monkey Business' pack, Lost Expeditions, Hunter Pack, Warrior Pack, Predator Pack). Far Cry 3 Classic Edition was later released for PS4/Xbox One and given free to Far Cry 5 Season Pass holders, featuring enhanced graphics for consoles.
Post-Launch Content / DLC
N/A
DLC included the 'Monkey Business' pack (4 missions with Hurk and unique monkeys), 'The Lost Expeditions' (2 missions), and various 'Warrior,' 'Hunter,' and 'Predator' packs which offered unique weapons, animal skins for crafting, or multiplayer content. A free 'High Tides' co-op DLC added two new chapters to the cooperative campaign.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When was Borderlands 3 released? A: Borderlands 3 was initially released on September 13, 2019, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via Epic Games Store), with a Steam release for PC on March 13, 2020. It later came to other platforms like Stadia, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Q: Who are the playable characters in Borderlands 3? A: There are four playable Vault Hunters: Amara the Siren, FL4K the Beastmaster, Moze the Gunner, and Zane the Operative. Each has three unique skill trees and multiple Action Skills.
Q: Who are the main villains in Borderlands 3? A: The main antagonists are the Calypso Twins, Troy and Tyreen, who lead the Children of the Vault (COV) cult and seek to harness the power of the Great Vault.
Q: Does Borderlands 3 have multiplayer? A: Yes, Borderlands 3 supports up to 4-player online co-operative multiplayer. It also features local split-screen co-op on consoles. Cross-platform play is supported across PC (Steam/Epic), Xbox, PlayStation, and Mac.
Q: What is Mayhem Mode in Borderlands 3? A: Mayhem Mode is an end-game feature that significantly increases game difficulty by applying random modifiers to enemies and gameplay, while also increasing loot quality and XP gain. There are multiple Mayhem levels (1-11 with Mayhem 2.0 update).
Q: How many planets can you visit in Borderlands 3? A: Players can travel to multiple planets beyond Pandora, including Promethea, Athenas, Eden-6, and Nekrotafeyo, using the Sanctuary III starship as a mobile base.
Q: What kind of DLC does Borderlands 3 have? A: Borderlands 3 has two Season Passes. Season Pass 1 includes four major story campaign add-ons. Season Pass 2 includes the Designer's Cut (Arms Race mode, 4th skill tree for each Vault Hunter) and the Director's Cut (new raid boss, Ava's murder mystery quests, behind-the-scenes content, Vault Cards).
Q: Is Far Cry 3 considered one of the best in the series? A: Yes, Far Cry 3 is widely acclaimed and often cited as one of the best games in the Far Cry series, and even one of the best open-world FPS games of its generation. It's particularly praised for its compelling story, iconic villain (Vaas Montenegro), lush open world, and engaging gameplay mechanics.
Q: What is the 'Definition of Insanity' speech? A: It's a famous monologue delivered by Vaas Montenegro in Far Cry 3. In it, Vaas defines insanity as 'doing the exact... same fucking thing... over and over again expecting... shit to change.' This speech has become iconic in video game culture.
Q: Can I play the main story of Far Cry 3 in co-op? A: No, Jason Brody's main single-player campaign is a solo experience. Far Cry 3 features a separate 4-player online cooperative campaign with its own unique story and characters that runs parallel to Jason's.
Q: How does crafting work in Far Cry 3? A: Crafting is essential for progression. Players hunt animals to collect their skins, which are then used to craft upgrades for gear like weapon holsters (to carry more weapons), ammo pouches, wallets (to carry more money), syringe kits, and more. Plants are also gathered to craft syringes for healing or temporary combat buffs (e.g., enhanced senses, fire resistance).
Q: What is the Tatau? A: The Tatau is a mystical set of tattoos that Jason Brody receives from the Rakyat tribe. As Jason gains experience and completes missions, new parts of the Tatau are inked onto his arm, visually representing his unlocked skills and his transformation into a warrior. Each segment of the tattoo corresponds to a skill in one of the three skill trees (Heron, Shark, Spider).
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Technical Details
Graphics & Visual Fidelity
N/A
Powered by the Dunia Engine 2, Far Cry 3 was praised for its stunning visuals at the time of release, depicting lush tropical jungles, vibrant coral reefs, sandy beaches, and detailed character models. It featured advanced lighting, water effects, and dense foliage. DirectX 11 support on PC allowed for enhanced features like HDAO (High Definition Ambient Occlusion) and MSAA (Multisample Anti-Aliasing).
Audio & Soundtrack
N/A
The original score by Brian Tyler features a mix of orchestral, electronic, and tribal elements, reflecting the game's tropical setting and Jason's psychological transformation. The licensed track 'Make It Bun Dem' by Skrillex & Damian Marley is famously used in the 'Kick the Hornet's Nest' mission. Sound design effectively captures the dense jungle atmosphere, wildlife sounds, and intense combat audio. Vaas Montenegro's voice acting by Michael Mando is iconic and widely praised.
User Interface (UI/UX)
N/A
Standard first-person HUD with a mini-map, health (regenerating segments), ammo count, and objective markers. The Tatau on Jason's arm visually represents his skill progression. A radial menu is used for weapon selection and syringe use. The world map allows for waypoint placement and tracking of discovered locations and collectibles.
Accessibility Options
N/A
Accessibility options were more limited compared to modern titles but included subtitle display, customizable controls (key remapping, sensitivity), and aim assist. The game's design, with clear objective markers and a mini-map, aided general playability.
CPU: Recommended desktop CPU for 1080p.
CPU (Laptop): Estimated mid-range laptop CPUs for smoother 1080p gameplay.
GPU: Recommended desktop GPU for 1080p high settings with DX11.
GPU (Laptop): Estimated performance-focused laptop GPUs for recommended 1080p.
RAM: Recommended RAM for smoother performance (8GB standard for modern gaming).
Storage: SSD strongly recommended.
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memoryCPU: Intel Core i3-530 @ 2.9 GHz or AMD Phenom II X2 565 @ 3.4 GHz or better
developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (1GB) or AMD Radeon HD 7850 (1GB) or better
laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i5-480M / AMD Phenom II X4 N930 or better. **Modern laptop CPUs like Intel Core i3 10th gen+ / AMD Ryzen 3 2000 series+ are vastly superior.**
laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480M / GTX 570M / AMD Radeon HD 6970M equivalent or better. **Modern laptop GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile, RTX 4050 Mobile, and above will achieve extremely high framerates at 1080p/1440p Ultra.**
CPU: Minimum desktop CPU.
CPU (Laptop): Estimated laptop CPU. Performance depends on specific model's cooling and power limits.
GPU: Minimum desktop GPU with 2GB VRAM.
GPU (Laptop): Targets playable framerates at 720p-1080p Low. **2GB VRAM is an absolute minimum and might struggle; 4GB VRAM is strongly recommended for laptops.** Performance varies greatly by TGP.
RAM: Minimum RAM requirement (dual-channel highly recommended if using 8GB or more).
memoryCPU: AMD FX-8350 or Intel Core i5-3570
developer_boardGPU: AMD Radeon HD 7970 (2GB) or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (2GB)
laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i5-7300HQ / AMD Ryzen 5 2500U or newer equivalent mobile CPUs with at least 4 cores/threads.
laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M (2GB/4GB), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile (2GB/4GB); OR AMD Radeon R9 M385X (4GB). A GTX 1650 Laptop (4GB) would be a more comfortable modern minimum.
layersRAM: 6 GB
saveStorage (Tier): 75 GB available space (SSD Recommended)
CPU: Minimum desktop CPU for playable framerates.
CPU (Laptop): Estimated laptop CPU equivalent for minimum performance. Any modern laptop CPU will far exceed this.
GPU: Minimum desktop GPU for DX9.
GPU (Laptop): Estimated laptop GPUs for minimum performance targets. Modern GPUs are orders of magnitude faster.
RAM: Minimum RAM requirement.
Storage: HDD is minimum.
—
memoryCPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 2.6 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ @ 3.0 GHz
developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX (512MB) or AMD Radeon HD 2900 PRO (512MB)
laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i3-330M / AMD Turion II P520 equivalent or better
laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M / AMD Mobility Radeon HD 4650 equivalent or better. **Any modern integrated GPU (Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics) or entry-level dedicated GPU (RTX 3050 Mobile, etc.) will run this game at high settings 1080p effortlessly.**
CPU: High-end desktop CPU for max settings at launch.
CPU (Laptop): Estimated higher-end laptop CPUs.
GPU: High-end desktop GPU for ultra settings at launch.
GPU (Laptop): Estimated high-end laptop GPUs.
RAM: 8GB RAM recommended.
Storage: SSD recommended for this tier.
—
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-870 @ 2.93 GHz or AMD FX-4150 @ 3.8 GHz or better
developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 (2GB) / GTX 760 (2GB) or AMD Radeon HD 7970 (3GB) / R9 280X (3GB) or better
laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-2630QM or better. **Any modern mid-range or high-end laptop CPU will not bottleneck this game.**
laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M / GTX 780M / AMD Radeon HD 8970M equivalent or better. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, RTX 4060 Mobile, and above will run this game at 1440p Ultra settings with very high framerates.**
layersRAM: 8 GB
saveStorage (Tier): 15 GB SSD.
1440p (QHD/2K) - Recommended (Target: 1440p High settings OR 1080p Ultra settings, ~60 FPS)(High/Ultra Preset.)
CPU: Recommended desktop CPU.
CPU (Laptop): Recommended laptop CPU for a smooth 1080p Ultra or 1440p High experience.
GPU: Recommended desktop GPU for 1440p High / 1080p Ultra.
GPU (Laptop): Targets ~60 FPS at 1080p Ultra or 1440p High. **Ensure adequate TGP for NVIDIA cards.** 6GB VRAM minimum, 8GB VRAM strongly recommended for laptops at this tier.
RAM: 16GB RAM in dual-channel strongly recommended for optimal performance.
laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q (8GB), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Laptop (6GB, High TGP), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop (6GB, Medium to High TGP); OR AMD Radeon RX 5600M (6GB), RX 5700M (8GB), RX 6600M (8GB).
layersRAM: 16 GB
saveStorage (Tier): 75 GB available space (SSD Recommended)
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2160p (UHD/4K) - Ultra 4K (DX11, High/Ultra Preset, Likely 30-60 FPS with modern high-end)(High/Ultra Preset, DirectX 11)
CPU: Modern CPU recommendation for 4K, GPU will be the main factor.
CPU (Laptop): Estimated top-tier laptop CPUs for 4K.
GPU: Modern GPU recommendation for 4K. Game is not demanding for current high-end cards.
GPU (Laptop): Modern high-end laptop GPUs offer excellent 4K performance for this title.
RAM: 16GB RAM strongly recommended for 4K.
Storage: SSD required for optimal 4K experience.
—
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.5 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 @ 3.2 GHz or better (Modern equivalent)
developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB) / AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (8GB) or better (Modern equivalent for good 4K)
laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-7700HQ / AMD Ryzen 7 1700 (Desktop equivalent in laptop) or better. **Modern high-performance laptop CPUs (Intel Core i7/i9 H/HX-series, AMD Ryzen 7/9 HS/HX-series) are more than adequate.**
laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile/RTX 4060 Mobile can provide a good 4K experience with some tweaked settings.**
layersRAM: 8 GB
saveStorage (Tier): 15 GB SSD.
save Overall Storage
Spec: 75 GB available space (SSD Recommended) Note: An SSD is recommended for faster load times and smoother overall gameplay experience. Type: SSD
Spec: 15 GB available space (SSD Recommended for modern play). Note: SSD is recommended for faster load times. Type: SSD
desktop_windows Operating System
Spec: Windows 7/10 (latest service pack) Explanation: A 64-bit version of Windows 7, 8.1, 10, or 11 with the latest service packs is required.
Spec: Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista (SP2), Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8 (Both 32-bit & 64-bit) Explanation: Original release supported older OS. Windows 10/11 64-bit recommended for modern hardware and the Classic Edition.
gamepad DirectX Version
N/A
Spec: DirectX 9.0c (DirectX 11 supported & recommended for best visuals) Explanation: DirectX 9.0c is minimum, with DX11 features available for enhanced graphics.
info_outline Other Game Notes
Official PC system requirements for 'Borderlands 3' (released in 2019). An SSD is recommended for better loading times and texture streaming, especially with higher settings. The game supports DirectX 11 and DirectX 12.
Laptop Performance Note: Borderlands 3 can be played on a variety of gaming laptops. Laptop GPUs and CPUs perform differently than their desktop counterparts due to Total Graphics Power (TGP) and thermal constraints. The estimations below reflect hardware from around the game's release period or slightly newer equivalents for a good experience. **Always check specific laptop model reviews for performance benchmarks, especially TGP and cooling.**
Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P Impact: The TGP of a laptop GPU significantly affects its performance. Higher TGP values for the same GPU model generally lead to better framerates.
Laptop Consideration: Advanced Cooling Thermals: Good cooling is crucial for laptops to sustain performance during long gaming sessions and avoid thermal throttling, which can reduce framerates.
Laptop Consideration: C P U Performance Sustain: A capable mobile CPU is needed to handle the game's demands, especially in busy areas or during intense combat, without bottlenecking the GPU.
Laptop Consideration: R A M Configuration Speed: 6GB is absolute minimum, but 16GB in dual-channel configuration is strongly recommended for a much smoother experience and to prevent stuttering, especially when many enemies or effects are on screen.
Laptop Consideration: Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match your laptop's GPU power to its display resolution (typically 1080p for this era of requirements) and aim for a refresh rate the GPU can consistently support (e.g., 60Hz or higher).
Laptop Consideration: Driver Updates O S Optimization: Using up-to-date GPU drivers and ensuring your OS (Windows) is optimized for gaming can improve stability and performance.
Optimization Detail: A P I Choice: Offers DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 renderers. DX12 may offer better performance on some newer hardware but DX11 can be more stable on older systems.
Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Texture Streaming, Material Quality, Shadows, Draw Distance, Volumetric Fog, Screen Space Reflections, and Anti-Aliasing options (FXAA, Temporal AA) are key settings affecting performance.
Game Name: Borderlands 3
Official system requirements from Ubisoft (as of game launch). Performance can vary depending on specific hardware, settings, and background applications. An SSD is recommended for optimal performance on modern systems. Far Cry 3 Classic Edition (released later) has similar requirements but may be better optimized for modern OS.
Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs may work if their performance is comparable. Performance on laptops is also heavily influenced by cooling and the GPU's Total Graphics Power (TGP). The estimated laptop specs below are approximate and reflect performance tiers for the game's original release period. **Modern laptop GPUs (NVIDIA RTX 30-series, RTX 40-series, and newer AMD equivalents) will vastly exceed these original recommendations and provide an exceptional experience at high resolutions and settings.**
Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Higher TGP in a laptop GPU generally correlates with better sustained performance.
Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Good cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling during demanding gameplay.
Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Laptops with higher CPU power limits can maintain boost clocks longer.
Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch (if available) or ensuring the dedicated GPU is prioritized over integrated graphics (via NVIDIA Control Panel/AMD Software) is recommended for optimal framerates.
Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, Ambient Occlusion (HDAO/HBAO), Anti-Aliasing (MSAA on DX11 can be demanding), Water Quality, Post FX, and Geometry Detail heavily impact performance.
Game Name: Far Cry 3
build Optimization Details
A P I Choice: Offers DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 renderers. DX12 may offer better performance on some newer hardware but DX11 can be more stable on older systems.
Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Texture Streaming, Material Quality, Shadows, Draw Distance, Volumetric Fog, Screen Space Reflections, and Anti-Aliasing options (FXAA, Temporal AA) are key settings affecting performance.
Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, Ambient Occlusion (HDAO/HBAO), Anti-Aliasing (MSAA on DX11 can be demanding), Water Quality, Post FX, and Geometry Detail heavily impact performance.
laptop Laptop Considerations
G P U T G P Impact: The TGP of a laptop GPU significantly affects its performance. Higher TGP values for the same GPU model generally lead to better framerates.
Advanced Cooling Thermals: Good cooling is crucial for laptops to sustain performance during long gaming sessions and avoid thermal throttling, which can reduce framerates.
C P U Performance Sustain: A capable mobile CPU is needed to handle the game's demands, especially in busy areas or during intense combat, without bottlenecking the GPU.
R A M Configuration Speed: 6GB is absolute minimum, but 16GB in dual-channel configuration is strongly recommended for a much smoother experience and to prevent stuttering, especially when many enemies or effects are on screen.
Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match your laptop's GPU power to its display resolution (typically 1080p for this era of requirements) and aim for a refresh rate the GPU can consistently support (e.g., 60Hz or higher).
Driver Updates O S Optimization: Using up-to-date GPU drivers and ensuring your OS (Windows) is optimized for gaming can improve stability and performance.
G P U T G P: Higher TGP in a laptop GPU generally correlates with better sustained performance.
Cooling Thermals: Good cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling during demanding gameplay.
C P U Power Limits: Laptops with higher CPU power limits can maintain boost clocks longer.
M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch (if available) or ensuring the dedicated GPU is prioritized over integrated graphics (via NVIDIA Control Panel/AMD Software) is recommended for optimal framerates.
check_circle_outline Recommended based on listed requirements for UHD (4K).
MSI Pulse GL66 with RTX 3070 and i7 12th Gen
memoryIntel Core i7-12700H
developer_boardNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
layers32GB DDR4-3200MHz
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
check_circle_outline Recommended based on listed requirements for UHD (4K).
MSI Pulse GL66 with RTX 3070 and i7 12th Gen
memoryIntel Core i7-12700H
developer_boardNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
layers32GB DDR4-3200MHz
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
Asus Rog Strix Scar 15 with RTX 3070 Ti and i9 12th Gen
memoryIntel Core i9-12900H
developer_boardNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
layers16GB DDR5-4800MHz
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 Ultra with RTX 3080 and Ryzen 9
memoryAMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
developer_boardNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
layers16GB DDR4-3200MHz
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
track_changesTarget GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile (8GB) or higher. **NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (High TGP), RTX 4070 Mobile, and above will achieve very high framerates at 4K Ultra. Even an RTX 3060 Mobile
info_outline
Laptop recommendations are estimates based on available component benchmarks and game requirements.
Actual performance may vary depending on settings, drivers, cooling, power limits, etc.
Prices and availability subject to change. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.