Everything We Know So Far About Borderlands 4

The looter-shooter genre has been craving a new king, and Borderlands 4 is poised to reclaim the throne. After a lengthy period of silence, Gearbox Software has finally lifted the curtain on the next mainline entry in the franchise, and it promises to be the most ambitious one yet. From a massive, seamless open world to a host of new movement abilities and a darker story, this is not just another sequel; it’s a fundamental reimagining of the franchise. With a release date set for September 12, 2025, here’s everything we know so far about the future of Borderlands.

Release Date and Platforms

The game is set to launch on September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store). A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also planned for a later date, specifically October 3, 2025. It’s worth noting that the game will not be available on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, as the developers are focusing on the latest generation of hardware to deliver the most seamless experience possible. While the game will support cross-play at launch, cross-save and cross-progression will be added in a future update.

A New World and a Darker Story

Borderlands 4 takes us to a brand-new planet, Kairos, a prison world that has been dominated by an oppressive, immortal being known as the Timekeeper. The story begins right after the ending of Borderlands 3, with Pandora’s moon, Elpis, being teleported into the atmosphere of Kairos. This cataclysmic event shatters the planet’s protective veil, allowing for a new generation of Vault Hunters to arrive and begin a rebellion. The developers have promised a darker, more serious tone for the story, one that focuses on a “sense of dread about the villain.” However, they have also promised to keep the series’ signature humor and over-the-top antics, ensuring that it still feels like a true Borderlands game.

New Vault Hunters and Familiar Faces

The game will feature four new Vault Hunters, each with a unique playstyle and a variety of branching skill trees. So far, we know of two of them:

• Vex the Siren: The new Siren for the game. Her abilities revolve around summoning “spectres” and a cat-like creature named Trouble to do her bidding.
• Rafa the Exo-Soldier: A former Tediore soldier who wears an experimental exo-suit that can conjure a variety of weapons, including a pair of deadly Arc Knives.
• Amon the Forgeknight: A warrior-poet who can manifest a variety of melee weapons from his forge drones.
• Harlowe the Gravitar: A combat scientist who can use her gadgets and inventions to manipulate gravity and use elemental attacks against her foes.

While the focus is on the new Vault Hunters, a number of familiar faces, including Claptrap and Patricia Tannis, are also confirmed to return.

Gameplay: More Freedom, More Challenge

Borderlands 4 is designed to be the most fluid and seamless game in the series. Thanks to the power of new hardware, the game will feature a massive, interconnected open world with no loading screens. This new level of freedom is complemented by a number of new movement abilities, including a double-jump, a dash, a grapple hook, and the ability to glide. These new mechanics will not only make exploration more enjoyable but also add a new layer of verticality to the combat. The developers have also listened to fan feedback and have increased the difficulty, particularly in boss fights. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has stated that the game will be “more challenging” in certain areas, with bosses that require more than just raw damage output.

Weapons and Loot

The core of the Borderlands experience is, of course, the loot, and the new game is pushing the boundaries even further. The developers have promised a staggering 30 billion unique guns, thanks to a new weapon-generation system. They have also reworked the approach to legendary guns, promising that they will be a “truly special event.” This is a direct response to a common criticism of Borderlands 3, where legendary items were too common. The new game will also feature new weapon types and new elemental effects, adding more variety to your arsenal.