There are still a few months to go before Borderlands 4 is released on September 12, but the game is already offering a chance for players to get a free weapon skin. We're fresh off the heels of a Borderlands 4 State of Play, where plenty of gameplay was shown alongside new information regarding the looter shooter's playable characters, loot, and open-world design.
Excitement is certainly building for the long-running series' next installment, and if you're already planning on purchasing the game, you can go ahead and get a Borderlands 4 weapon skin for free. As reported by Windows Central, Gearbox Software and 2K are giving away a free Borderlands 4 weapon skin called Hazard Pay, which anyone can sign up to receive, and will be delivered in-game when it launches later this year. You can claim your Borderlands 4 weapon skin via SHiFT, a platform used by Gearbox Software to regularly deliver bonus content to players who have an account.
How To Get The Free Borderlands 4 Weapon Skin
Create Or Sign Into Your SHiFT Account
The free weapon skin for Borderlands 4 is called Hazard Pay (pictured above). It's bright red with what looks like caution tape painted haphazardly around it. All you have to do to claim the Hazard Pay skin is to ensure that you have a SHiFT account and that it's connected to the profile you will play Borderlands 4 on. You have to "Subscribe to receive newsletters and digital marketing with a SHiFT Account," according to the Borderlands website, then link your preferred platform(s) under the Gaming Platforms tab.
When Borderlands 4 releases in September, the Hazard Pay skin will be delivered in-game to the linked account, as long as you log into SHiFT from within the game client. Anyone on the fence about purchasing Borderlands 4 doesn't have to fret about missing out on the Hazard Pay weapon skin – the free skin offer ends on December 31, 2030, so it seems to be redeemable even after Borderlands 4 launches.
SHiFT Accounts Are Usually Worth It For Borderlands
Regular Free Items
It may be an inconvenience, and even a detriment to those who keep a clean email inbox, but a SHiFT account can be beneficial if you plan on putting a significant amount of time into Borderlands 4. Signing up will put you on the website's mailing list, but in past Borderlands games, this has resulted in plenty of in-game freebies getting sent to you via email. These range from cosmetics for both your Vault Hunter and weapons to Golden Keys that are used to open a special chest in-game.
Once you've chosen your Borderlands 4 Vault Hunter, it'll become all about the loot, and connecting a SHiFT account is a relatively harmless way to get an edge without much hassle. Codes regularly get released that can be redeemed via the SHiFT site or in-game (if Borderlands 4 works the same as previous games). Borderlands 4 won't be out for a while yet, but you can get a headstart on your loot collection be claiming the Hazard Pay weapon skin for free.
Sources: Windows Central, SHiFT, Borderlands
Borderlands 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82/100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Prequel(s)
- Borderlands 3, Borderlands 2, Borderlands
- Franchise
- Borderlands
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Local Co-Op Support
- Console-only
