Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: Key Announcements

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of new gameplay and details from the eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, asserting that the 2025 installment is the studio's most immersive and refined yet, promising 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 escalates the experience with novel mechanics and refreshed features, and we've compiled all the key highlights here.

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

Each Borderlands game refreshes its traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. While we've had glimpses of the new tools players will have at their disposal upon the game's September release, today's gameplay footage provided a clearer picture of what's in store.

Vault hunters can now enjoy a Destiny-inspired midair hover, allowing them to shoot while airborne or reach distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook can be utilized for both combat and exploration, complemented by a dash for those crucial last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a central feature in Borderlands 4, with players now able to spawn their rides, including the new Digirunner, at will.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases highlighted new Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play shone a spotlight on the gun manufacturers. There are eight companies arming players in this adventure, introducing three newcomers – Order, Ripper, and Daedalus – who will supply some of Borderlands 4's innovative weaponry.

Each new manufacturer brings unique weapon designs and abilities to the table. Borderlands 4 further innovates with the introduction of the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be composed of various parts from different manufacturers. For example, you might find an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, a Torgue 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 introduces two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex uses her Siren abilities to summon allies in combat, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to swiftly dismantle enemies. The gameplay footage showcased the duo battling through the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.

Borderlands 4 continues the series' tradition of blending old and new characters. Familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap appear, with hints of more to come about Lilith. New additions include Rush, a towering armored figure, and Echo 4, a helpful robot. Echo 4 will accompany players throughout Borderlands 4, assisting with exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 enhances the multiplayer experience with a streamlined co-op process. Gearbox has introduced "an improved lobby system" for easier friend join-ups and crossplay at launch, ensuring all loot is instanced and levels dynamically scale, allowing players to enjoy the game with friends on any platform.

Customization within parties has been expanded, enabling individual difficulty settings for each player. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, along with a feature allowing 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. Players can choose between a quick revive and temporary combat buff with Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances allow filling a cooldown weapons slot with grenades or unique heavy weapons. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

Borderlands 4 has moved up its release date on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S by 11 days, from September 23 to September 12. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is slated for later in the year.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford clarified that the release date change is not connected to the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more details on Borderlands 4 as Gearbox prepares to unveil additional information at its upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.