Borderlands 4: New Gameplay, Characters, and Release Date Details
Gearbox Software has just unveiled a treasure trove of information about the highly anticipated *Borderlands 4*, during its State of Play presentation. The showcase 20 minutes of new gameplay and exciting details regarding the looter-shooter. The message was clear from the start: this 2025 installment aims to be the studio’s most refined and engaging entry in the series to date, promising significant changes to gameplay mechanics. These changes range from innovative traversal abilities to alterations in how loot drops are handled.
Gearbox packed the presentation with reveals about how *Borderlands 4* raises the stakes with both new mechanics and refreshed existing features. Let's dive into the highlights!
Enhanced Movement and Exploration Every *Borderlands* game introduces fresh ways to navigate the world, and *Borderlands 4* continues this tradition. While we've seen glimpses of new tools in previous showcases, the State of Play provided a much clearer picture. Vault Hunters can now utilize a Destiny-inspired mid-air hover, allowing for shooting while airborne or reaching otherwise inaccessible ledges. A grappling hook adds another layer of both combat and exploration, while a dash provides that crucial last-second dodge. Vehicles remain a core element, and players can now summon their rides, including the new Digirunner, almost anywhere.
Guns, Guns, and More Guns: Meet the Manufacturers While previous showcases hinted at new Vault Hunter movement options, the State of Play shined a spotlight on the gun manufacturers. This time around, eight companies are supplying players with weaponry, introducing three new players to the market: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus. Like the returning manufacturers, each newcomer boasts unique weapon designs and abilities. *Borderlands 4* takes things a step further with the Licensed Parts System. Guns can now be assembled from parts made by different manufacturers, creating unique combinations. Imagine an assault rifle with Maliwan elemental components, a Torgue ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons will include more parts, making the hunt for top-tier loot even more rewarding.
Story and Characters: Familiar Faces and New Friends The State of Play two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, an exosuit-wearing former Tediore soldier. Vex uses her Siren abilities to summon beings to aid in battle, while Rafa constructs tools like Ark Knives to dismantle enemies on the fly. Gameplay showed the duo battling across the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos. *Borderlands 4* will continue the series' tradition of reuniting players with familiar faces while introducing new ones. Fan favorites like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap made appearances, and there were hints of more lore surrounding Lilith. New characters include a towering, armored figure named Rush and a helpful robot named Echo 4, who will assist players throughout the game by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding them to their next objective.
Streamlined Multiplayer and Customization *Borderlands 4* aims to make co-op play more seamless. An improved lobby system will make joining friends easier than ever. Crossplay will be available at launch, with loot instanced for each player and dynamic level scaling, allowing you to play with friends on any platform, regardless of level. Customization extends even further, with individual difficulty settings for each player. For those who prefer to game on the couch, split-screen co-op will be available at launch, along with the option to fast travel to teammates who may have wandered off.
More Gameplay Enhancements *Borderlands 4* also features a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, dense new skill trees, and a host of other additions. Rep Kit gear allows players to choose between a quick revive or a temporary combat buff, while Ordnances give the option to fill a cooldown weapon slot with either grenades or unique heavy weapons. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers. The release date for *Borderlands 4* on PC (via the Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S has been moved forward 11 days, from September 23rd to September 12th. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for later in the year. Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford has stated that this change is unrelated to the release of *Grand Theft Auto 6*. We anticipate more information about *Borderlands 4* to be revealed in June.