Borderlands crosses 100 million sales as Gearbox gives away free Golden Keys

The Borderlands franchise has officially surpassed 100 million copies sold worldwide, giving Gearbox Software and 2K a major new milestone more than 17 years after the original game introduced players to Pandora.

Gearbox announced the figure on November 2 while thanking players for supporting the looter-shooter series. The developer is also celebrating by giving away Golden Keys across five Borderlands games through a limited-time SHiFT code.

The code CZKJJ-35RH6-T9K9C-9TJJT-SXRCT provides 20 Golden Keys in each supported title. It works with Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition, Borderlands 2, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Borderlands 3 and Borderlands 4.

Players who own all five compatible games can therefore receive as many as 100 Golden Keys in total. The code can be redeemed through SHiFT and is scheduled to expire on November 16, giving players roughly two weeks to collect the rewards.

Golden Keys open special loot chests containing randomized weapons and equipment. Their value varies depending on the game and a player’s progression, but the giveaway provides returning Vault Hunters with another source of gear without requiring additional missions or challenges.

The franchise began with the original Borderlands in 2009 before expanding through sequels, spin-offs and narrative adventures. Gearbox did not provide a game-by-game breakdown of the 100 million sales figure, so it remains unclear exactly how much each release contributed.

The milestone arrives just over a year after Borderlands 4 launched on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Gearbox recently completed the game’s first-year roadmap, adding two Story Packs, five Bounty Packs and two additional Vault Hunters.

That period also introduced free Raid Boss encounters and the Takedown endgame raid alongside balance updates, new systems and quality-of-life improvements. Gearbox says more Borderlands 4 content is already being developed for 2027, meaning the game will continue receiving support after its first major content cycle.

While additional Borderlands 4 updates remain planned, Gearbox says it is taking a wider look at the future of the franchise. The studio has asked players which characters they want to revisit and which unfinished stories deserve more attention.

Weekly Activities and Community Challenges will continue while those longer-term plans are developed. Gearbox has not announced another standalone Borderlands game, so the 100 million milestone currently serves more as a celebration of the series’ history than a reveal of its next major entry.

The achievement also arrives ahead of The Hunt: All Aboard!, a charity event beginning November 6. Gearbox and 2K Foundations will match donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital up to $118,995.80, connecting the sales milestone with another community-focused event for the franchise.