No, Borderlands 1 is Not Cross Platform – Here‘s a Complete Breakdown

To get right to the point – no, the original Borderlands 1 is not a cross platform game. If you‘re playing Borderlands 1 on Xbox 360, you cannot play cooperatively online with friends on PlayStation 3 or PC.

Cross platform multiplayer is not supported between any systems for Borderlands 1 or its remastered Game of the Year edition. This limitation can be disappointing if you and your friends want to play together but are on different platforms.

However, crossplay capabilities have expanded in newer Borderlands games, so which titles support it and which don‘t? As a Borderlands expert and avid fan, let me break down the cross platform status for you across every release. I‘ll also share my thoughts on whether the Tiny Tina‘s Wonderlands Chaotic Great edition is worth the cost.

A Look Back at Borderlands 1 Cross Platform Capabilities

When Borderlands 1 first launched in 2009, cross platform multiplayer was not as widely supported in games as it is today. The focus 13 years ago was making sure online co-op worked smoothly on individual platforms before tackling crossplay.

Back then, only 21% of multiplayer games offered cross platform support. The technology was still evolving and game studios were rightly cautious about executing crossplay smoothly.

So it‘s understandable why Gearbox did not prioritize cross platform multiplayer for the original Borderlands. Getting the game running flawlessly on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC was the top concern.

In 2019, Gearbox released the Borderlands Game of the Year remaster. This was a golden opportunity to retrofit crossplay into the original game.

However, the remaster focused mainly on visual upgrades, quality of life tweaks, and additional content. Under-the-hood networking changes were not part of the scope.

So again, no cross platform multiplayer was included. At this point, it seems unlikely the original Borderlands will ever get retrofitted for crossplay unless it gets re-remastered.

Breaking Down Crossplay Support in All Borderlands Games

Here is the full breakdown of crossplay capabilities across every Borderlands release:

• Borderlands 1 (2009) – No crossplay
• Borderlands 1 Remaster (2019) – No crossplay
• Borderlands 2 (2012) – No crossplay
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014) – No crossplay (except between Mac/PC)
• Borderlands: The Handsome Collection (2015) – No crossplay
• Borderlands 2 VR (2018) – No crossplay
• Borderlands 3 (2019) – Full crossplay added in April 2021
• Tiny Tina‘s Wonderlands (2022) – Full crossplay at launch

As you can see, it is only the most recent entries (BL3 and Wonderlands) that allow you to play with friends on other systems like PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

The earlier games were created before crossplay was commonplace and never received the networking updates needed to enable the feature.

This highlights how much technology has progressed when comparing a game like Borderlands 1 in 2009 vs. Wonderlands in 2022. Crossplay adoption has risen dramatically, and is now an expected feature included at launch for many multiplayer titles.

Comparing Crossplay Support by Platform

Looking at the most recent games, here is a breakdown of crossplay capabilities by platform:

Borderlands 3

• PlayStation 4 – Added in June 2021
• PlayStation 5 – Yes
• Xbox One – Yes
• Xbox Series X/S – Yes
• PC (Steam) – Yes
• PC (Epic Games Store) – Yes
• Google Stadia – Yes

Tiny Tina‘s Wonderlands

• PlayStation 4 – Yes
• PlayStation 5 – Yes
• Xbox One – Yes
• Xbox Series X/S – Yes
• PC – Yes

As you can see, Wonderlands has the most parity at launch with support across all major platforms. The longer-released BL3 is now on par following the PlayStation crossplay update.

Having complete crossplay opens up the multiplayer experience to all players while also extending the lifespan through joint communities.

The Benefits of Crossplay in Borderlands Games

Enabling crossplay in the newer Borderlands titles provides some great benefits:

• Play with friends who own different gaming systems. No one left behind!
• Faster matchmaking by combining the player pool across platforms.
• Joint communities keeping the game vibrant for longer.
• Shared downloadable content and updates across all systems.
• Experience the game however you want – console, PC, or cloud streaming.
• Local split-screen and online multiplayer can mix and match.

Crossplay delivers on the core Borderlands experience – seamless cooperative gameplay with anyone. Your Vault Hunting squad can now be comprised of all your friends regardless of their platform.

Will Older Borderlands Games Ever Get Crossplay?

Given the extensive backend work required, it seems doubtful that older Borderlands titles will be retroactively updated to offer crossplay support.

Gearbox is focused on improving newer releases, while games like BL2 have waning player counts making crossplay upgrades less impactful for the developer cost.

However, if an older title did get re-remastered in the future, adding crossplay would be on the feature list. But short of a complete rework, I don‘t foresee the older games receiving cross platform multiplayer.

Your best bet for playing Borderlands cross play is to grab BL3 or Wonderlands. All signs point to crossplay support continuing in any future franchise entries as well.

Is the Chaotic Great Edition of Tiny Tina‘s Wonderlands Worth It?

For hardcore Borderlands fans considering Tiny Tina‘s Wonderlands, the Chaotic Great edition is enticing for its bonuses. But at $89.99, it costs $30 more than the standard edition – so is it worth springing for?

Here is a full breakdown of what the Chaotic Great edition includes:

• Season Pass – Four upcoming DLC packs valued around $40 that will expand Wonderlands later on.
• Golden Hero Armor Pack – A shining end-game cosmetic armor set. Exclusive to this edition.
• Butt Stallion Cosmetic Pack – Weapon charms, armor decals, armor skins, and a Diamond Guard costume.
• Tiny Tina‘s Treasure Trove – In-game items like Dark Magic potion at start and increased gold find.

You can see the Season Pass comprises a big chunk of the value. The cosmetics and boosts are fun extras, but not essential.

In my opinion, if you‘re a dedicated Borderlands player who knows you‘ll be blasting baddies in Wonderlands for months to come, the Chaotic Great edition is likely worth it.

The Season Pass alone makes up for about 60% of the price difference. Four sizeable DLC drops will keep the experience fresh.

However, more casual players who may move on from Wonderlands somewhat quickly are better off saving their cash and just getting the standard edition. You‘ll still get the full Wonderlands package for $30 less.

Looking at Reddit and review sites, hardcore fans love the extras while more casual players recommend saving your money. Evaluate your own interest level and you can determine which way to go.

There‘s no definitively "right" choice – go with the version that matches your own gaming style and willingness to pay for extras. Either way, Wonderlands will provide that signature Borderlands looting and shooting experience we all crave!

The Bottom Line

At launch, Borderlands 1 did not offer crossplay support which sadly remains the case today. Only the most recent franchise entries like Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina‘s Wonderlands allow you to play across platforms with friends.

Crossplay has rapidly become a baseline expectation for multiplayer games thanks to advancing technology in recent years. We‘re sure to see this trend continue going forward.

While the Chaotic Great edition of Wonderlands is enticing, more casual players may be fine sticking with the standard edition and purchasing DLC later. Evaluate your own gaming habits and interest level.

Hopefully this detailed breakdown of Borderlands crossplay helps provide a definitive answer! Let me know if you have any other questions and I‘ll be happy to chat more. Happy looting!