Even though large public gathering places such asDisneyland are planning to reopen soon, the coronavirus pandemic has not gone away, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are 2,275,645 total cases across the U.S. as of July 12, 2025. Many companies have been donating and starting charity drives since the pandemic began, and today Gearbox Software announced a new donation event forBorderlands 3to support Direct Relief.
As of this morning,Borderlands 3players can purchase a new in-game cosmetic called the “antisocial mask” for a minimum $5 donation to the nonprofit, which will go to buying personal protective equipment for healthcare workers across the country. The Shift code unlocking these masks can be applied to PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions of the game, and on the Gearbox Loot page the developer says, “We just ask you to help others as they fight real, honest-to-God battles that have to be won.”
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This new donation drive comes as Gearbox Software prepares to releaseBorderlands 3’s next DLC,Bounty of Blood: A Fistful of Redemption, on Thursday, June 25. Any American fans who are interested can also purchase 3-packs of reusable cloth face masks based onBorderlandscharacters to use in real life.
Gearbox is not the only video game developer that has turned its sights on Direct Relief specifically. In April, Bungie began a donation drive throughDestiny 2called the Guardian’s Heart Initiative thatraised over $780,000 for Direct Reliefby the time it ended in May. Individual celebrities such as restaurateur Guy Fieri have also been raising money for charitable organizations like the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, further national turmoil broke out following the killing of George Floyd as huge crowds took to the streets to protest police brutality. These Black Lives Matter protests have spawned another wave of activism by video game developers likeEA, which donated $1 million to racial injustice charitiesat the beginning of the month.
As Gearbox prepares to launch its next major DLC forBorderlands 3, the developer has also been implementing new in-game content beyond digital charity facemasks. A new game mode called Takedown at the Guardian Breach released June 12, and Gearbox announced it will makeadjustments based on player feedbackfrom that launch.
Borderlands 3is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
