Borderlands 4 April 2025: Full Announcements

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing an exciting 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the eagerly awaited looter shooter. This event highlighted that the 2025 installment is set to be the studio's most engaging and grounded experience to date, with significant updates to gameplay ranging from new traversal abilities to changes in the loot drop mechanics. The 20-minute showcase was packed with insights into how Borderlands 4 enhances the series with fresh mechanics and revamped features, and here are all the key highlights.

Movement Abilities

Each installment in the Borderlands series brings innovation to its traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. The gameplay footage provided a clearer picture of the new abilities players will enjoy upon the game's release in September. Vault hunters now have access to a Destiny-like midair hover, enabling them to shoot while in the air or reach distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook adds versatility for both combat and exploration, complemented by a dash for evasive maneuvers. Vehicles remain a staple in Borderlands 4, with the introduction of the Digirunner and the ability to spawn vehicles at will.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases touched on new Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, the State of Play put a spotlight on the gun manufacturers. Borderlands 4 introduces eight companies, including three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each bringing unique weapon designs and abilities to the table. A groundbreaking feature, the Licensed Parts System, allows guns to be composed of parts from different manufacturers, enhancing customization. For instance, an assault rifle might feature elemental components from Maliwan, an ammo clip from Torgue, and a shield from Hyperion. Higher rarity weapons will have more parts, making the hunt for top-tier loot more compelling than ever.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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Story

The Borderlands 4 State of Play introduced two new Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex utilizes Siren abilities to summon allies in combat, while Rafa employs tools like Ark Knives for swift enemy takedowns. The gameplay demo featured them navigating the Terminus Range on the planet Kairos, showcasing one of four new zones.

The narrative will blend familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap with new characters such as the armored Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4. Echo 4 will assist players throughout their journey, enhancing exploration through scanning, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 aims to enhance the co-op experience with an improved lobby system and seamless friend joining. Crossplay will be supported at launch, with loot instanced for each player and dynamic level scaling allowing for flexible play across platforms. Players can also customize their difficulty settings independently, and the game supports split-screen couch co-op and fast travel to locate friends.

Additionally, Borderlands 4 introduces features like a lower chance for Legendary loot drops, expanded skill trees, and new gear options such as Rep Kit and Ordnances. The Rep Kit offers choices between a quick revive and a temporary combat buff, while Ordnances allow players to equip either grenades or unique heavy weapons in a cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to specific manufacturer guns.

Borderlands 4 has moved up its release date by 11 days, now set for September 12 on 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. Gearbox's Randy Pitchford clarified that this schedule change is unrelated to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates as Gearbox prepares for a hands-on gameplay event in June.