Home News April 2025 State of Play Highlights Borderlands 4 Gameplay

April 2025 State of Play Highlights Borderlands 4 Gameplay

Author : Chloe Update : Oct 20,2025

Borderlands 4 Gameplay Deep Dive Was Main Focus of April 2025 State of Play

The April 2025 State of Play spotlighted Borderlands 4 with an exclusive 20-minute gameplay deep dive, offering fans a comprehensive look at the game’s evolving mechanics, new Vault Hunters, and the vibrant, chaotic world of Kairos. Discover the latest revelations and insights into why the game’s release date has shifted.

Borderlands 4: State of Play Highlights

20-Minute Gameplay Deep Dive

The highly anticipated Borderlands 4 State of Play event delivered a detailed 20-minute gameplay showcase, giving players an in-depth look at what to expect from the next chapter in the beloved looter-shooter franchise. Airing on April 30, the presentation highlighted key gameplay elements, character abilities, and world-building features that set the game apart.

Two of the four playable Vault Hunters were introduced: Vex the Siren, who harnesses supernatural phase energy to enhance her own powers and summon deadly minions, and Rafa the Exo-Soldier, a former Tediore trooper equipped with an experimental exo-suit capable of digistructing a dynamic arsenal of weapons on the fly.

Borderlands 4 Gameplay Deep Dive Was Main Focus of April 2025 State of Play

Players will explore Kairos, a new planet teeming with danger and rebellion. The world is home to warring factions, deadly wildlife, and desperate survivors, all under the iron grip of the tyrannical Timekeeper. The core narrative revolves around sparking a revolution, recruiting unique factions, and building alliances to overthrow the oppressive regime.

Returning fan-favorite characters—including Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane—will play pivotal roles, offering support, missions, and signature humor throughout the journey.

The gameplay deep dive also showcased several new mechanics and systems:

  • Licensed Parts System: Players can now customize weapons by mixing and matching components, allowing for unprecedented control over weapon behavior and performance.
  • Expanded Gear Slots: Additional gear slots enable more specialized and diverse character builds.
  • Digirunner Vehicle: A new rideable vehicle that enhances traversal across Kairos’ expansive and hazardous terrain.

These features promise to deepen the strategic layer of combat and exploration, staying true to the series’ signature blend of chaos and customization.

Borderlands 4 Gameplay Deep Dive Was Main Focus of April 2025 State of Play

Gearbox Addresses Release Date Change

Prior to the State of Play, Gearbox Software announced that Borderlands 4 would launch two weeks earlier than originally planned. The studio attributed the shift to the team’s exceptional development progress and confidence in the final product.

Despite this official explanation, speculation quickly emerged within the community. Many fans theorized that the change was influenced by the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), especially given that both Gearbox Software and Rockstar Games operate under the Take-Two Interactive umbrella.

This theory gained traction following Take-Two’s November 2024 earnings call, where CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed that GTA 6 remains on track for a Fall 2025 release. He emphasized that the company avoids stacking major releases, stating, "I think it’s safe to say that we wouldn’t, and no one would, stack up huge releases unnecessarily."

In response to the rumors, Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Entertainment, took to X (formerly Twitter) on April 30 to clarify the decision. He firmly stated that the early launch was driven solely by the team’s pride in their work and internal readiness. "Our decision is literally 0% about any other product’s actual or theoretical launch date," Pitchford affirmed.

Regardless of external speculation, one thing is clear: fans will get their hands on Borderlands 4 sooner than expected. The game is now set to launch on September 12, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth coverage as we approach the release. [ttpp]