Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: All Announcements

Gearbox Software has just concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling 20 minutes of new gameplay and details from the eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 Borderlands installment will be the studio's most refined and immersive yet, featuring significant gameplay enhancements ranging from innovative traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights into how Borderlands 4 raises the bar with new mechanics and revitalized existing features. Here's a detailed look at the highlights.

Every Borderlands game refreshes its traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. While we've glimpsed some of the new tools players will use when the game launches in September, the recent gameplay footage provided a clearer picture of what to expect.

Vault hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, allowing them to shoot while airborne or reach distant ledges. A grappling hook is introduced for both combat and exploration, complemented by a dash for those critical last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a core element in Borderlands 4, with the new Digirunner among the options players can spawn at will, enhancing freedom and flexibility in the game world.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases teased new Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, the State of Play spotlighted the game's gun manufacturers. Eight companies will supply the adventure's arsenal, with three newcomers—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—bringing fresh designs and abilities to the mix.

Borderlands 4 pushes the envelope further with the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be composed of parts from different manufacturers. Imagine wielding an assault rifle with elemental components from Maliwan, an ammo clip from Torgue, and a shield from Hyperion. With higher rarity weapons featuring more parts, the hunt for significant loot drops becomes more thrilling than ever.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex employs her Siren abilities to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to swiftly dismantle foes. The showcased gameplay features the duo navigating the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.

Borderlands 4 continues the series' tradition of blending familiar faces with new ones. Notable returns include Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints suggesting deeper exploration into Lilith's story. New additions include Rush, a towering armored figure, and Echo 4, a helpful robot companion that assists players throughout their journey, scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 enhances the co-op experience with a streamlined process. Gearbox has introduced "an improved lobby system," making it easier to join friends quickly. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring seamless multiplayer across platforms, with instanced loot and dynamic level scaling for a tailored experience.

Customization in multiplayer is taken to new heights with individual difficulty settings for each player. Split-screen couch co-op will be available from the start, and a new feature allows players to fast travel to their friends if someone gets lost.

Borderlands 4 recently moved up its release date by 11 days, from September 23 to September 12, for 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's Randy Pitchford clarified that the date shift has nothing to do with the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates as Gearbox plans to unveil additional details at an upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.