Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: All Announcements

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing an exciting 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the much-anticipated looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 installment will be the studio's most immersive and refined experience yet, with significant gameplay enhancements ranging from new traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights into how Borderlands 4 elevates the series with innovative mechanics and enhanced features, and we've compiled all the key highlights for you right here.

Movement Abilities ------------------

Each Borderlands game introduces fresh traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. While we've had glimpses of the new tools players will use when the game launches in September, today's gameplay footage provided a more detailed look at what's in store.

Vault hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, allowing for shooting while airborne or reaching distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook enhances both combat and exploration, and a dash ability enables last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a crucial element in Borderlands 4, with the new Digirunner and the ability to spawn rides at will.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases highlighted Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play focused on the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will arm players in this adventure, introducing three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each with unique weapon designs and abilities.

Borderlands 4 introduces the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be composed of parts from different manufacturers. For example, you might find an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, Torgue's ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons feature more parts, intensifying the quest for those coveted loot drops.

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 uses Siren abilities to summon beings for combat support, 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.

Borderlands 4 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 objectives.

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 all loot is instanced and levels dynamically scale, allowing seamless play across platforms.

Customization extends to individual difficulty settings within parties, making co-op more accessible. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, and a new feature allows players to fast travel to their friends if someone gets lost.

Borderlands 4 also introduces a lower chance for Legendary loot drops, dense new skill trees, and more. Rep Kit gear offers choices between quick revives and temporary combat buffs, while Ordnances allow players to equip either grenades or unique heavy weapons in a cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

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 CEO Randy Pitchford clarified 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 updates as Gearbox prepares to reveal additional details at its upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.