Borderlands 4 Unveils Loot, Co-op, Mini Map Updates at PAX East

Discover the exciting enhancements to Borderlands 4's loot and co-op systems, unveiled during PAX East 2025, and learn why the game opts out of using a traditional mini-map.

Borderlands 4 PAX East Panel

Loot and Co-Op Overhaul

Gearbox Software, the developers behind Borderlands 4 (BL4), have introduced significant upgrades to the game's loot and co-op mechanics. At PAX East 2025, held on May 10, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford and his team detailed these enhancements.

Drawing from fan feedback since Borderlands 3 (BL3), BL4's co-op system now allows for seamless player entry and exit at any point in the game, eliminating the need for specific checkpoints to join friends. The introduction of a fast-travel system accommodates the game's expansive map, enabling players to quickly join their friends. Like BL3, BL4 implements a level-scaling system, ensuring that players can join any lobby and their levels will adjust accordingly, extending this feature to their loot pools for personalized rewards.

Regarding loot, BL4 aims to simplify its complexity to prevent player overwhelm. The game will offer fewer legendary items, but each will be more impactful and rewarding. Specific drops from mini-bosses and major enemies will provide a sense of achievement, while the return of Moxxi’s Big Encore allows players to replay missions and bosses without the need to reload saves for loot farming.

Mini-Map Removal Explained

In response to queries about the absence of a mini-map in the vast world of BL4, Randy Pitchford explained the decision during PAX East 2025. He emphasized that the game's large world and the need for players to focus on broader objectives and opportunities, rather than local navigation, led to this choice.

"We've created a massive world," Pitchford said, "and many of the activities you engage in require you to consider distant objectives and opportunities. A local mini-map isn't ideal for this, but our new compass system will guide players effectively across the expansive landscape. We want you to play the game, not the map."

As Gearbox gears up for the launch of Borderlands 4, following a successful State of Play and an earlier-than-expected release announcement, the studio plans to engage fans further at events like Fan Fest, Bilibili World, and Gamescom.

Borderlands 4 is scheduled for release on September 12, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news on the game by following our coverage below!