Agenda

Gearbox Software shares how its online engineering team prepared the backend platform for the launch of Borderlands 4 through large-scale, full-system load testing. Rather than validating individual features in isolation, the team built a unified test that simulated real player behavior across all online systems, from matchmaking to cross-platform play. This session details how the team generated realistic data, leveraged AWS and Serverless technology, and balanced test fidelity against cost and complexity. Attendees learn how Gearbox overcame late-stage technical challenges such as spot instance terminations and adopting Serverless Redis, and how these efforts led to both platform stability and improved team readiness. The talk provides practical takeaways for studios looking to conduct high-fidelity load testing at scale and highlights how holistic testing can strengthen both technical confidence and cross-team collaboration before launch.

Takeaway

Attendees learn how Gearbox engineers built a unified, game-wide load test to simulate live player behavior and scale AWS and Serverless technologies. The session provides concrete methods for designing, executing, and optimizing load tests capable of supporting seven-digit CCU titles and ensuring backend stability under real-world launch conditions.

Intended Audience

This session targets engineers and technical leaders interested in backend load testing for large-scale online games. Attendees benefit from practical insights into system design, cloud scalability, and load test architecture. Familiarity with common cloud concepts, such as AWS services, serverless architecture, and distributed systems, helps maximize understanding but is not required.