Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: All Announcements

Gearbox Software has just concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling an exciting 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the highly anticipated looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 installment is the studio's most grounded and innovative entry yet, with significant gameplay changes from new traversal abilities to revamped loot drop formulas. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights into how Borderlands 4 elevates the experience with new mechanics and refreshed features, and we've compiled all the highlights for you.

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

Each Borderlands game brings fresh updates to its traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. We've had glimpses of the new tools players will wield upon its September release, but today's gameplay footage offered a clearer picture of what's in store.

Vault hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, allowing them to shoot while airborne or access distant ledges. There's also a grappling hook that serves both combat and exploration purposes, alongside a dash for those critical last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a staple in Borderlands 4, with the ability to spawn your rides, including the new Digirunner, at your convenience.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases highlighted Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play put the spotlight on gun manufacturers. With eight companies arming players this time, three new ones—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—join the fray, each offering unique weapon designs and abilities.

Borderlands 4 introduces the Licensed Parts System, a fresh take on gun mechanics. Weapons can now incorporate parts from different manufacturers, such as an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, a Torgue ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons boast more parts, intensifying the pursuit of 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 harnesses Siren powers to summon allies in combat, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives for on-the-fly enemy dismantling. The showcased gameplay features the duo navigating cold, open arenas in the Terminus Range, one of four explorable zones on the planet Kairos.

Borderlands 4 continues the tradition of encountering familiar and new faces. Notable returns include Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of more information on Lilith. New characters introduced include Rush, a towering armored figure, and Echo 4, a helpful robot that accompanies players throughout the game, assisting with exploration through scanning, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 enthusiasts will appreciate Gearbox's efforts to enhance the co-op experience. The game features "an improved lobby system," making it easier to connect with friends instantly. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring all loot is instanced per player and dynamic level scaling allows for seamless play across different platforms.

Customization within parties is taken a step further, with the ability for each player to set their own difficulty settings. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, complemented by a fast travel feature to quickly reunite with lost teammates.

Borderlands 4 also boasts a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, new dense skill trees, and much more. Players can choose between quick revives and temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances offer the flexibility to equip either grenades or unique heavy weapons in a cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

Borderlands 4 recently 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 a later release this year.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford clarified that the schedule change has nothing to do with the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates on Borderlands 4, as Gearbox plans to reveal further details at an upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.