Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: All Announcements

Gearbox Software has just concluded its exhilarating Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing an impressive 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, assuring fans that the 2025 installment will be Gearbox’s most engaging and grounded experience to date. It promises significant gameplay enhancements, including new traversal abilities and revised loot drop mechanics. Throughout the 20-minute showcase, Gearbox unveiled how Borderlands 4 pushes boundaries with innovative mechanics and revitalized features, and we've compiled all the key highlights below.

Each Borderlands game brings fresh updates to its traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is set to continue this tradition. While earlier previews hinted at new movement tools, the latest gameplay footage provided a more comprehensive look at what's in store for players this September.

Vault Hunters will now have access to a Destiny-inspired midair hover, enabling them to shoot while in the air or reach distant ledges. Additionally, a versatile grappling hook serves both combat and exploration purposes, and a new dash ability offers crucial last-second evasions. As always, vehicles play a pivotal role in Borderlands 4, with the added convenience of spawning your rides, including the new Digirunner, anywhere you choose.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases focused on Vault Hunter traversal, today's State of Play highlighted the gun manufacturers. Borderlands 4 introduces eight companies, including three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus. Each new manufacturer brings unique weapon designs and abilities to the game.

Borderlands 4 takes its gun mechanics a step further with the introduction of the Licensed Parts System. This innovative feature allows weapons to be composed of parts from various manufacturers, such as an assault rifle with Maliwan’s elemental components, a Torgue-made ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons boast more parts, intensifying the thrill of chasing those coveted loot drops.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows the adventures of two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who summons allies in battle, and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit, who crafts tools like Ark Knives for combat. The duo navigates through the icy expanses of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.

Borderlands 4 continues the series’ tradition of blending familiar faces with new characters. Returning figures include Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of more to come about Lilith. New additions include the towering, armored Rush and the utility robot Echo 4. Echo 4 will accompany players throughout the game, assisting with exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 enhances the multiplayer experience with streamlined co-op features. Gearbox has introduced an "improved lobby system" to facilitate easier connections with friends. Crossplay will be supported at launch, ensuring that all loot is instanced for each player, and dynamic level scaling allows for seamless gameplay across different platforms.

Customization extends to party settings, where each player can set their own difficulty level. Split-screen couch co-op will be available from launch, and a new feature enables players to fast travel to their friends if someone gets lost.

Borderlands 4 also introduces a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, along with dense new skill trees. Players can choose between quick revives and temporary combat buffs with the new Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances offer the choice between grenades and unique heavy weapons in a cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

Borderlands 4 has recently moved up its release date by 11 days, now set for September 12 on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for later in the year, though the exact date remains undisclosed.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford clarified that this schedule change is not connected to the anticipated release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates on Borderlands 4 as Gearbox prepares to unveil additional details at their upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.