When it comes to co-op games, the Borderlands franchise and Arc Raiders have both found themselves at the top of the mountain. In the case of Borderlands, it’s been working to recapture the immense success of Borderlands 2, with Borderlands 3 having a flawed base game and great DLC, and BL4 having the exact opposite issue. Arc Raiders, on the other hand, took the gaming scene by storm and quickly became the biggest extraction shooter on the market in 2025. However, Arc Raiders‘ plummeting player count is impossible to ignore, and can largely be attributed to its own post-launch issues. For lapsed fans of either IP (or both), the upcoming Steam game Gravebound could offer refuge.
To be clear, support for neither Borderlands 4 nor Arc Raiders has actually ceased. In Borderlands 4’s case, a new Bounty Pack and a free takedown literally just dropped, though realistically, this content will only last players about a week. With the new Vault Hunter and expansion not coming until September, July and August could be rough waters for Borderlands enjoyers. And as for Arc Raiders, every year going forward is going to have some rough patches since there will only be two big content drops a year from now on. So, while players may flock back to the game for its major updates, the months that follow will offer little to do. An alternative for one’s co-op group feels like a must, then, and Steam’s Gravebound manages to do something better than both games.
Borderlands 4’s roadmap also ends with the fifth Bounty Pack in late 2026, meaning that the game may only get one year of support before Gearbox leaves it behind.
Borderlands 4: Takedown at Hadron Abyss Bosses & Loot
Discover which bosses you will encounter in Borderlands 4’s Takedown at Hadron Abyss, what loot they drop, and how the encounter actually works.
Gravebound’s Squad Size Could Be a Difference Maker
Unlike Borderlands 4, which limits groups to four Vault Hunters, or Arc Raiders, which has 3-player squads, Gravebound allows players to team up in groups of six. With Borderlands 4 having a big open world to play around in, and more open areas to battle enemies in as a result, some had hoped for an increase in player count that never came. Especially with post-launch Vault Hunters being introduced, being able to have a group of six unique characters sounds like an epic Borderlands experience, but BL4 instead stuck to the tried-and-true four-player co-op limit. Arc Raiders, on the other hand, narrows things down even further with its 3-player restriction.
These limitations often mean that players cannot play with their entire friend groups; with games like Overwatch and Call of Duty offering 6v6 for years, many players have groups this size that wish to play together. Naturally, parties this size are forced to split up in Borderlands games and ARC Raiders, and it surely never feels good being the odd ones out. With a larger player count up its sleeve, Gravebound could appeal to co-op enjoyers that have been forced to create friend groups within friend groups, uniting everyone and letting them play together again.
Additionally, Destiny’s raids have shown how valuable larger player counts could be. Sure, Gravebound’s PvE extraction sandbox may not offer mechanics that are as complex as Bungie’s masterpieces, but developer Crater Studios will still have the option to create deeper encounters where each player has a unique task if it ever sees fit. At the very least, six-player squads create more chaos, opportunities for players to create their own roles (medics, damage dealers, snipers, etc.), and a distinct benefit compared to other extraction games and looter shooters.
Per Gravebound’s Steam page, the game was intended to launch in Q2 2026. However, with Q3 starting in July, it’s safe to assume that a delay will occur.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
EasyMediumHardPermadeath
Gravebound Offers Familiar Elements, But a Whole New Grind
Yes, Gravebound has been compared to Arc Raiders and Borderlands, and rightfully so. It holds onto the former’s rewarding extraction loop and machine enemies alongside the latter’s cel-shaded, comic book-like art style. However, in addition to the squad count, Gravebound has the same advantage as any new game: fresh content to explore. Borderlands 4’s bosses can only be farmed so much before it gets old, and the same goes for Arc Raiders’ humorous interactions with other players. And, eventually, Gravebound will have the same fate as both titles. Still, for a time, it will have heaps of content to explore right when Borderlands and Arc Raiders are starting to feel stagnant. An early access approach guarantees tons of additions for over a year, too. Creating builds, learning how to fight never-before-seen enemies, and mastering new weaponry could be just what fans of Gravebound’s two clear inspirations need to get out of their slump.
