Borderlands 4 April 2025: All Announcements

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the highly anticipated looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 installment will be the studio’s most grounded and innovative entry yet, with significant gameplay changes ranging from new traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights on how Borderlands 4 elevates the series with fresh mechanics and enhanced existing features. Here’s a comprehensive look at the highlights.

Movement Abilities ------------------

Each Borderlands game introduces new traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. While we’ve had glimpses of the new looter-shooter tools in earlier showcases, the latest gameplay footage provided a detailed look at what players can expect when the game launches in September.

Vault hunters can now use a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, allowing for shooting while airborne and reaching distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook enhances both combat and exploration, and a dash ability enables last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a key element in Borderlands 4, with the new Digirunner and the ability to spawn vehicles at any location adding to the freedom of movement.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases highlighted Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, the State of Play focused on the gun manufacturers. With eight companies arming players, three new ones—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—join the fray, each offering unique weapon designs and abilities. Borderlands 4 introduces the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be composed of various parts from different manufacturers. This means you could find an assault rifle with elemental components from Maliwan, an ammo clip from Torgue, and a shield from Hyperion. Higher rarity weapons will feature more parts, intensifying the quest for those coveted loot drops.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who uses her abilities to summon beings for combat assistance, and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit, who crafts tools like Ark Knives for on-the-fly enemy destruction. The showcased gameplay features the duo navigating the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.

The narrative continues the series' tradition of blending old and new characters. Familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap made appearances, with hints of more to come about Lilith. New additions include Rush, a towering armored figure, and Echo 4, a helpful robot that accompanies players, aiding in exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 aims to enhance the multiplayer experience with streamlined co-op processes. Gearbox has introduced an "improved lobby system," making it easier to join friends quickly. Crossplay will be available at launch, with all loot instanced for each player and dynamic level scaling to ensure seamless gameplay across platforms.

Customization extends to difficulty settings, allowing each player in a party to choose their preferred level of challenge. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, along with a feature enabling players to fast travel to their friends if separated.

Borderlands 4 also includes a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, dense new skill trees, and more. Players will face choices with Rep Kit gear, deciding between quick revives or temporary combat buffs, while Ordnances allow for filling a cooldown weapons slot with either grenades or unique heavy weapons. Enhancements replace Artifacts, offering bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

Borderlands 4 has moved up its release date on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S by 11 days, from September 23 to September 12. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is set to release later in the year.

Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford clarified that this schedule change is not related to the long-awaited release date of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. More information about Borderlands 4 is expected as Gearbox prepares for an upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.