Borderlands 4 April 2025: Full Reveal

Gearbox Software has just concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of new gameplay and details from their eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation jumps straight into the action, asserting that the 2025 installment of Borderlands is the most immersive and refined yet, introducing significant gameplay enhancements ranging from innovative traversal mechanics to revised loot drop systems. Gearbox filled the 20-minute showcase with exciting reveals about how Borderlands 4 elevates the series with new mechanics and revamped features. Here are all the key highlights.

Each Borderlands game introduces fresh traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 continues this tradition. Earlier previews hinted at new tools for players, but today's gameplay footage offered a more detailed glimpse into what awaits us upon the game's release this September.

Vault hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, allowing for shooting while airborne or reaching distant ledges. A grappling hook adds versatility for both combat and exploration, and a dash mechanic aids in those crucial last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a cornerstone of the Borderlands experience, and in Borderlands 4, players can spawn their rides, including the new Digirunner, at any location.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases touched on Vault Hunter traversal, today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will arm players this time, with three new additions—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—introducing unique weaponry.

Borderlands 4 further innovates with the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be composed of parts from various manufacturers. Imagine an assault rifle featuring elemental components from Maliwan, a Torgue-made ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons boast more parts, heightening the importance of those epic loot drops.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The Borderlands 4 State of Play focuses on two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex employs Siren abilities to summon beings for combat assistance, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to swiftly dismantle enemies. The gameplay footage features the duo navigating cold, open arenas in the Terminus Range, one of four explorable zones on the planet Kairos.

The narrative continues the series' tradition of blending old and new characters. Familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap make appearances, with hints that we might delve deeper into Lilith's story. New characters include the towering, armored Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4, who will accompany players, aiding exploration through scanning, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 enhances the co-op experience with a streamlined process. Gearbox introduces "an improved lobby system," making it simpler to connect with friends. Crossplay will be available from launch, ensuring that loot is instanced per player, and dynamic level scaling allows for seamless play across platforms.

Party customization is taken to new heights, with individual difficulty settings for each player. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, and a new feature lets players fast travel to their friends if anyone gets separated.

Borderlands 4 has 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 planned for later in the year.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox's Randy Pitchford clarified that the date change is not connected to the release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more details as Gearbox gears up for a hands-on gameplay event in June.