Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: Key Announcements

Gearbox Software has just concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 installment will be the studio's most immersive and refined entry to date. It highlights significant gameplay enhancements, including new traversal mechanics and modifications to the loot drop system. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights into how Borderlands 4 elevates the series with fresh mechanics and revitalized features. Here are all the key highlights.

Each Borderlands game introduces new ways to navigate its worlds, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. We've previously glimpsed some of the new tools at players' disposal, but the latest gameplay footage offers a more detailed preview of what's in store.

Vault hunters will now have access to a midair hover feature reminiscent of Destiny, enabling them to shoot while in the air or reach distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook serves both combat and exploration purposes, complemented by a dash ability for timely evasions. Vehicles remain a staple in Borderlands 4, with the ability to spawn them, including the new Digirunner, at any desired location.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases focused on Vault Hunter traversal, today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. The game features eight companies, introducing three new ones—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—each with unique weapon designs and abilities.

Borderlands 4 further innovates with the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be assembled from parts supplied by different manufacturers. This means you could wield an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, a Torgue-made ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. The rarity of weapons correlates with the number of parts, intensifying the thrill of hunting for high-value loot.

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, an exosuit-wearing former Tediore soldier. Vex uses Siren powers to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives for on-the-fly combat. The showcased gameplay features them battling through the cold, open arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.

The narrative continues the tradition of encountering both familiar and new characters. Returning figures include Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of deeper lore about Lilith. New additions include Rush, a towering armored figure, and Echo 4, a robot companion that aids in exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.

Multiplayer

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

Party customization is enhanced, allowing each player to set their own difficulty level. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, along with a feature enabling players to fast travel to their friends if someone gets lost.

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 slated for later in the year.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford clarifies that the date change is not related to the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more information as Gearbox gears up to reveal details about its upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.