Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: Full Announcements

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling an exciting 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 is the studio's most immersive and refined entry to date. With significant gameplay overhauls ranging from new traversal abilities to revamped loot drop systems, Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with fresh mechanics and enhanced features. We've compiled all the key highlights for you right here.

Movement Abilities

Every Borderlands game refreshes its traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. We've seen glimpses of the new tools players will use when the game launches this September, and today's gameplay footage provided a clearer picture of what's in store.

Vault hunters now have access to a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, enabling players to shoot while airborne or reach distant ledges. A grappling hook enhances both combat and exploration, and a dash ability allows for last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a core component, with players now able to spawn their rides, including the new Digirunner, at their convenience.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases introduced the new Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will equip players for their adventures, including three newcomers: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each bringing unique weapon designs and abilities.

Borderlands 4 introduces the Licensed Parts System, a novel twist on gun mechanics. Weapons can now feature parts from different manufacturers, such as an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, a Torgue ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons boast more parts, intensifying the thrill of hunting for those coveted loot drops.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

View 17 Images

Story

The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex uses her Siren abilities to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to swiftly dismantle foes. The gameplay showcased 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 familiar faces with new characters. Returning figures include Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of more to come about Lilith. New additions include Rush, a towering armored figure, and Echo 4, a helpful robot that assists players throughout the game by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objective.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 enhances the co-op experience with a streamlined process. Gearbox has introduced "an improved lobby system" to facilitate quick connections with friends. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring seamless play across platforms with instanced loot and dynamic level scaling.

Customization extends to individual difficulty settings within parties, allowing each player to tailor their experience. Split-screen couch co-op will be available from the start, and a new feature enables fast travel to friends if someone gets lost.

Borderlands 4 also introduces a lower chance for Legendary loot drops, dense new skill trees, and more. Players can choose between a quick revive and a temporary combat buff with Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances allow filling a cooldown weapons slot with either grenades or unique heavy weapons. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

Borderlands 4 has 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 slated for later in the year.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford clarified that the date change is unrelated to the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates as Gearbox prepares to reveal additional details at its upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.