Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling an exciting 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, asserting that the 2025 installment is the studio's most refined and grounded experience yet, featuring significant gameplay enhancements from new traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights into how Borderlands 4 escalates the series with innovative mechanics and revitalized features, and we've compiled all the key points here.
Movement Abilities ------------------Every Borderlands game introduces fresh traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. We've glimpsed some of the new tools players will use when the game launches in September, but the latest gameplay footage offers a more comprehensive view of what's in store.
Vault hunters will now benefit from a Destiny-inspired midair hover, enabling them to shoot while airborne or reach distant ledges. A grappling hook adds versatility for both combat and exploration, and a new dash ability allows for last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a staple in Borderlands 4, with the ability to spawn them, including the new Digirunner, at any location.
Guns and Manufacturers
While previous showcases focused on Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will equip players on their adventure, with three newcomers—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—introducing unique weaponry.
Borderlands 4 expands on its gun mechanics with the Licensed Parts System, allowing weapons to be composed of parts from various manufacturers. For example, you might find 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 the loot hunt.
Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots
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Story
The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, an exosuit-wearing former Tediore soldier. Vex uses her Siren abilities to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives for swift enemy takedowns. The gameplay showcases their journey through the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.
The narrative continues the series' tradition of blending familiar faces with new characters. Today's reveal included Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of more about Lilith to come. New additions include the imposing, armored Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4, who will accompany players, aiding in exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next goal.
Multiplayer
Borderlands 4 enhances the co-op experience with a streamlined process. Gearbox introduces "an improved lobby system" to facilitate quick connections with friends. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring all loot is instanced and levels dynamically scale for seamless play across platforms.
Party customization extends further, allowing individual difficulty settings for each player. Split-screen couch co-op returns at launch, and a new feature lets players fast travel to their friends if they get separated.
Borderlands 4 also features a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, extensive new skill trees, and more. Rep Kit gear offers choices between quick revives and temporary combat buffs, while Ordnances allow players to equip either grenades or unique heavy weapons in a cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses specific to certain gun manufacturers.Borderlands 4 has moved up its release date by 11 days, now set for September 12 on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is slated for release later in the year.
Despite fan speculation, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford clarified that the schedule change is unrelated to the anticipated release of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more information as Gearbox gears up for a hands-on gameplay event in June.
