Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: All Announcements

Gearbox Software has recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, offering fans an exciting glimpse into what's in store with 20 minutes of new gameplay and detailed insights into the much-anticipated looter shooter. This showcase promises that the 2025 installment will be the studio's most ambitious and grounded yet, featuring significant gameplay enhancements from new traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute presentation with fresh reveals about Borderlands 4's innovative mechanics and updated features, and we've compiled all the key highlights for you right here.

Each installment of Borderlands brings new ways to navigate its worlds, and Borderlands 4 continues this tradition. With its release slated for September, we've caught glimpses of the innovative traversal tools players will have at their disposal. The gameplay footage showcased today provided a more comprehensive view of these features.

Vault hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, allowing them to shoot while in the air or reach distant ledges. Additionally, a versatile grappling hook has been introduced for both combat and exploration, along with a dash for those critical last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a staple in Borderlands 4, with the new Digirunner model offering players the ability to spawn their rides at any location they choose.

Guns and Manufacturers

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

Borderlands 4 introduces a novel Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be assembled from various parts sourced from different manufacturers. This means you could encounter an assault rifle with elemental components from Maliwan, a Torgue-made ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons feature more parts, intensifying the excitement of hunting for those coveted loot drops.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The State of Play spotlighted two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who conjures beings to assist in battle, and Rafa, an exosuit-clad former Tediore soldier who constructs tools like Ark Knives for on-the-fly combat. The showcased gameplay featured the duo navigating through the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.

Following the series' tradition, Borderlands 4 will reintroduce familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, while hinting at further exploration of Lilith's story. New characters include the towering, armored Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4, who will accompany players throughout the game, aiding in exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objectives.

Multiplayer

Gearbox has streamlined the co-op experience for Borderlands 4, introducing "an improved lobby system" to facilitate easier connections with friends. Crossplay will be available at launch, with loot instanced for each player and dynamic level scaling to ensure seamless gameplay across platforms.

The game offers enhanced party customization, allowing each player to set their own difficulty settings independently. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, alongside a feature that lets players fast travel to their friends if someone gets lost.

Borderlands 4 also introduces a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, alongside dense new skill trees and a variety of new gameplay features. Players will face decisions between quick revives and temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, and choose between grenades and unique heavy weapons for their Ordnances. Enhancements replace Artifacts, offering bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

Borderlands 4 has recently advanced its release date by 11 days, moving from September 23 to September 12 for PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S. A version for the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected later in the year, though an exact date has not been specified.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox's Randy Pitchford clarified that the date shift is unrelated to the eagerly awaited release of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates as Gearbox gears up for a hands-on gameplay event in June.