Borderlands 4 April 2025 Reveal: All Announcements

Gearbox Software has just concluded its exciting Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for its eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 release of Borderlands 4 will be the studio's most immersive and refined experience to date, with significant updates to gameplay ranging from enhanced traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights on how Borderlands 4 elevates the series with innovative mechanics and refreshed features, and we're here to break down all the key points.

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

Each installment of Borderlands brings fresh traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. While previous showcases hinted at new tools for players, today's gameplay footage provided a deeper look into what's in store. Vault hunters will enjoy a Destiny-inspired midair hover, allowing them to shoot while airborne or reach distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook will enhance both combat and exploration capabilities, while a dash feature aids in last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a crucial element in Borderlands 4, with the ability to spawn rides like the new Digirunner at will.

Guns and Manufacturers

While we've seen some of the new Vault Hunter traversal mechanics in earlier presentations, today's State of Play focused heavily on the gun manufacturers. Borderlands 4 introduces eight companies, including three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each offering unique weapon designs and abilities. The game introduces a groundbreaking Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be made up of parts from different manufacturers. For instance, you might find an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, Torgue's ammo clip, and Hyperion's shield. Higher rarity weapons feature more parts, intensifying the thrill of the loot hunt.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows the adventures of two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex uses her Siren abilities to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to dismantle enemies swiftly. The gameplay showcases their journey through the cold, open arenas of the Terminus Range on the planet Kairos, one of four zones to explore.

Borderlands 4 continues the tradition of blending familiar faces with new ones. Today's presentation included Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of more to come about Lilith. New characters introduced include the imposing, armored Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4, who will accompany players throughout the game, aiding in exploration, scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.

Multiplayer

Gearbox has made strides to enhance the co-op experience in Borderlands 4. The game introduces an improved lobby system for seamless friend connections, and crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring personalized loot and dynamic level scaling across platforms. Customization extends to individual difficulty settings within parties, making it easier to play together. Split-screen couch co-op will be available from the start, and a new feature allows players to fast travel to their friends if they get separated.

Borderlands 4 also promises a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, intricate new skill trees, and more. Players will choose between quick revives and temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances offer the choice between grenades and unique heavy weapons for the cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

Borderlands 4 has recently advanced its release date by 11 days, moving from September 23 to September 12 on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is slated for later in the year. Despite fan speculation, Gearbox's Randy Pitchford clarified that this change is unrelated to the anticipated release of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates as Gearbox prepares for its upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.