Borderlands 4 Release Moved Up 11 Days: Impact on GTA 6 Launch?

Gearbox's highly anticipated first-person shooter, *Borderlands 4*, is set to hit the shelves 11 days earlier than originally planned, as announced by development chief Randy Pitchford in a video that was inadvertently released early. Initially slated for a September 23 release, *Borderlands 4* will now launch on September 12, available across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

In the video, Pitchford shared his excitement, stating, "Everything is going great, actually. In fact, everything is going kind of the best-case scenario. The game is awesome, the team is cooking, and so the launch date for *Borderlands 4* is changing. We’re moving it forward. The launch date is now September 12." He further exclaimed, "What?! This never happens you guys! This never happens! We’re moving the launch date forward! You’re gonna get *Borderlands 4* earlier!" Pitchford also mentioned that a PlayStation State of Play focused on *Borderlands 4* is expected to be released soon.

The decision to advance the release date of *Borderlands 4* has sparked speculation about its timing in relation to the upcoming *Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6)*. *GTA 6* is currently scheduled for a fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, though the exact date remains uncertain. This ambiguity has led to questions about whether *Borderlands 4*'s new release date is strategically designed to avoid competition with *GTA 6*.

It's important to note that *Borderlands 4* is published by 2K Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two, which also owns Rockstar, the developer behind *GTA 6*. At the executive level, including CEO Strauss Zelnick, there is a comprehensive understanding of the development timelines and market strategies for all of Take-Two's games. The decision to move *Borderlands 4* forward might have been influenced by recent clarifications on *GTA 6*'s release window, aiming to provide *Borderlands 4* with a more favorable launch period.

With *Borderlands 4* set to release on September 12, it appears unlikely that *GTA 6* will launch in the same month or in August. Possible release months for *GTA 6* could now be October, November, or December 2025. However, this poses the risk of Take-Two's major titles competing against each other, potentially diminishing their individual success. This concern is compounded by the planned summer 2025 release of another 2K title, *Mafia: The Old Country*.

In a February interview with IGN, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the potential for cannibalization among the company's big releases. Zelnick assured that Take-Two is planning its release schedule to minimize this risk, emphasizing the importance of giving consumers ample time to enjoy each hit game before moving on to the next. He stated, "No, I think we will plan the releases so as not to have that be a problem... And what we found is when you're giving consumers hits, they tend to be interested in pursuing other hits."

Amidst these considerations, there remains the possibility that *GTA 6* could be delayed into early winter or even into the first quarter of 2026. When asked about the confidence in meeting the fall 2025 target for *GTA 6*, Zelnick responded cautiously, "Look, there's always a risk of slippage and I think as soon as you say words like absolutely, you jinx things... So we feel really good about it."