Here’s how cross-saves work in Borderlands: The Handsome Collection

When Gearbox revealed the 64-in-1 TV game cartridge of remasters, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, they did so with a package that has one hook that just might draw in players who have already defeated Handsome Jack and opened up a few vaults on Pandora. And that’s cross-save functionality. Yep, you’ll be able to port your old-gen save game over into the current-gen version of Borderlands 2 if you choose to do so, or weren’t a complete twonk who sold his Xbox 360 that had several high-level vault hunters inside of it. Like me, dammit. Here’s how the function works.

To get started, your old-gen copies of Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PS Vita will need to be updated with the latest patch. Only one save can be uploaded at a time however, so you’ll need to repeat the steps below for multiple save games according to the Gearbox blog:

• Ensure all versions of the games are up to date with the latest patch (old-gen and new-gen) and you are connected to PlayStation Network or Xbox Live
• From the main menu of the PS3 or Xbox 360 versions of BL2 or BL:TPS, choose the “Cross Save” (PlayStation consoles) or “Cloud Save” (Xbox consoles), then “Upload Save” function
• Once the save has been uploaded, choose “Cross Save” or “Cloud Save” then “Download Save” from the main menu of the PS4 / Xbox One Handsome Collection game for which you’re downloading the save

As usual, there are a few catches:

• The Xbox family of systems can only move saves from Xbox 360 to Xbox One and not the other way around
• The PlayStation family of systems can upload / download saves from any system to any other PlayStation system. Think of PS3 / PS4 / PSV as a triangle, and saves can move in any direction (Vita saves are only applicable to BL2 and not BL:TPS)
• Uploading a save does not remove it from the original system, it only creates a copy of the save on the network
• Players will need the day 1 patch for the Handsome Collection in order to download saves
• Players will also need the most recent patch installed for PS3 / Xbox 360 in order to upload saves

So what comes along with your character? Pretty much everything that you’ve unlocked in your quest to Liam Neeson all the bandits on Pandora:

• Character level and all mission progress
• Badass Points (all of these will transfer, but you’ll get to re-spend them)
• Backpack inventory
• Weapon slots
• Cash and Eridum/Moonstones
• All unlocked character customizations (heads/skins) ***note that customizations obtained from Telltale’s Poker Night 2 will be added in a patch following launch***
• Items stored in the bank in Sanctuary

This however, does NOT include items stored in Claptrap’s Secret Stash. Trophies and Achievements will also need to be re-earned, and your current stash of golden keys won’t transfer over either. And Claptrap’s wubba dubbadub dubs. HOWEVER, players who sign into the SHIFT service in the Handsome Collection will get given the following goodies:

Borderlands 2

• 75 Golden Keys
• A healthy chunk of Badass Rank
• Bonus character customizations

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

• 75 Golden Keys
• A healthy chunk of Badass Rank
• Bonus unique weapons and character customizations

The game is out on March 24 for Xbox One and PS4. I’ll most likely be re-crafting my Mechromancer into a badass, all over again while lamenting about the fact that I just pulled another “Tali Incident” with my old-gen saves.

Last Updated: March 18, 2015