Borderlands Game of the Year Edition now available: Here's what's new

Today is a big day for the Borderlands franchise for more reasons than one. Not only did 2K and Gearbox release a lot of new information about Borderlands 3 this morning, but they're also launching Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition on new platforms and releasing a collection of new texture packs for Borderlands: The Handsome Collection. If you're a Borderlands fan, then today is a good day.

Both Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition and the update for The Handsome Collection are now available. With the former, Gearbox is updating the original Borderlands for the modern era, giving it a 4K coat of paint and making a few upgrades to the game in the process. The new version of Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition adds SHiFT support, along with the golden chests and keys that have present in more recent Borderlands titles.

There's also new support for four-player local co-op, something that was missing from the original release. You'll be able to import any save progress from the original game (assuming you're importing to a platform within the same console family), and signing into Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition with a SHiFT account that has previously played any other Borderlands game will net you a couple of weapons and 75 gold keys.

As far as The Handsome Collection is concerned, the upgrades we're receiving aren't quite so significant. The Handsome Collection was created in part to bring Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel forward a generation, so that part is already taken care of. The updates The Handsome Collection is receiving today include 4K packs that overhaul most of the textures in both games. If you're on Xbox One X or PC, you'll need to download the texture packs for Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel separately, while PS4 Pro users get it all in one download for The Handsome Collection.

The 4K texture packs for The Handsome Collection are being offered for free, while Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition runs $30 regardless of platform. If you already own the original Borderlands on Steam, you'll receive a free update with all of these Game of the Year Edition upgrades, while those playing on Xbox One and PS4 can head to GameStop in the US or EB Games in Canada to pick up a physical copy if they so wish.