Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: Key Announcements

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling an exciting 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for this eagerly awaited looter shooter. The showcase jumps straight into the action, promising that the 2025 release of Borderlands 4 will be the studio's most refined and immersive experience yet. With significant gameplay enhancements, including new traversal abilities and revamped loot drop systems, Gearbox packed the 20-minute presentation with insights into how Borderlands 4 will elevate the series. Below, you'll find a comprehensive summary of the highlights.

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

Every installment of Borderlands brings fresh traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. The gameplay footage from today's event offered a detailed glimpse into the new tools at players' disposal, set to debut this September. Vault hunters will now have access to a midair hover feature reminiscent of Destiny, allowing for airborne shooting and reaching distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook enhances both combat and exploration, while a dash ability enables last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a pivotal aspect of Borderlands 4, with the new Digirunner model that players can spawn at their convenience.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases introduced Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Borderlands 4 introduces eight companies, including three new ones—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—each contributing unique weapon designs and abilities. The game also introduces the Licensed Parts System, a novel approach to gun mechanics. This system allows weapons to incorporate parts from various manufacturers, such as an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, Torgue's ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons feature more parts, intensifying the thrill of hunting for those significant loot drops.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The Borderlands 4 State of Play focuses on two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who summons allies in battle, and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit, equipped with innovative tools like Ark Knives. The gameplay showcases them navigating the frigid, open arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos. The narrative continues the tradition of encountering familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, while hinting at more about Lilith. New characters include the imposing Rush and the supportive robot Echo 4, which assists in exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 introduces enhancements to multiplayer, streamlining the co-op experience with an "improved lobby system" for easier friend connections. Crossplay will be available at launch, with loot instanced for each player and dynamic level scaling ensuring flexibility across platforms. Customization extends to difficulty settings, allowing each player in a party to choose their preferred challenge level. Split-screen couch co-op will also be available at launch, complemented by a feature enabling players to fast travel to their friends if separated.

Borderlands 4 promises a lower chance for Legendary loot drops, alongside new dense skill trees and innovative gear. Rep Kit gear offers choices between quick revives and temporary combat buffs, while Ordnances allow players to equip 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 for 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 this scheduling change is unrelated to the anticipated release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. More details about Borderlands 4 are expected as we approach Gearbox's upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.