(Image credit: Gearbox Software)
Borderlands 4 is on its way, and set to make its debut this September. Initially unveiled in summer 2024, a plethora of details have since been uncovered. There are promises of an extensive array of weapons, expertly designed skill trees, and numerous customization options.
As one of the most anticipated titles for 2025, insights into the direction Gearbox is taking with this new installment have emerged. According to CEO Randy Pitchford, while it won’t be completely open-world, it will be the “most open and free game” they’ve developed so far. Fans can look forward to a dedicated “Borderlands 4 State of Play” showcase this spring to get a closer look.
Borderlands games are famous for their unique humor, and this latest entry appears to follow suit. With previous titles earning a spot among the best in the shooter genre, the bar is set high for Borderlands 4. Here’s a comprehensive view of what awaits us.
The release is confirmed for September 23, 2025, marking a simultaneous launch across all platforms. This exciting news arrived during the February PlayStation State of Play, alongside confirmation of GTA 6 dropping in the same fall window. Fans eagerly anticipate how Take-Two Interactive will balance the schedule between these two giant releases.
While the first official trailer lacks gameplay footage, it adeptly sets the scene with a mesmerizing fractured planet under siege. The subsequent Game Awards 2024 trailer offers glimpses of intense gameplay and strategic maneuvering. Current clips promise excitement, leaving us eager for more detailed trailers with story elements.
Borderlands 4 will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, launched through both the Epic Game Store and Steam. Though not officially stated, the absence of PS4 or Xbox One in trailers implies exclusivity to newer hardware. As the Switch 2 has been announced, fans speculate potential arrival to that platform as well.
Gameplay details are scarce, with Gearbox keeping developments close to the chest. Players will venture as a legendary Vault Hunter, battling enemy hordes for treasure on a brand-new planet, maintaining its essence as a looter shooter.
Emphasizing a blend of approachability and complexity, creative director Graeme Timmins underscores the importance of RPG elements: “Just like our first-person side, we’re expanding depth without increasing complexity.” The humor and comedic potential explored in Borderlands 2 will be cherished, according to senior project producer Anthony Nicholson.
Gearbox aims for depth in skill trees, promising an “unprecedented level of expression” for players, along with “billions of weapons and accessories” to discover.
We’re adventuring beyond Pandora, with the new setting confirmed as an “all-new planet.” The original trilogy’s familiar terrain is left behind, but concept art reveals enticing prospects for this fresh environment.
Get ready to embrace four new Vault Hunters, keeping with Gearbox’s tradition of introducing new playable heroes. Though we await confirmation of returning characters, these fresh faces will take on roles like ‘soldier’ and ‘mage’, driving innovations in gameplay.
Developed by Gearbox Software, long-standing creators of the franchise, the game is backed by publisher 2K Games—continuing a collaborative legacy. This marks the first Borderlands title released with Gearbox as a fully owned 2K subsidiary, following the 2024 acquisition by Take-Two Interactive.
Even as rumors circulated—backed by a LinkedIn hint from a former Gearbox employee—the community eagerly anticipated the official announcement last March. As Pitchford aimed to preempt the film adaptation, confidence in the upcoming game remains high. Following the latest Game Awards trailer, optimism abounds that fans will be delighted.
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