Borderlands 4 April 2025 State of Play: All Announcements

Gearbox Software has just concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling an exciting 20 minutes of new gameplay and details from their eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 installment is the studio's most grounded and innovative outing yet, with significant gameplay enhancements ranging from new traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights on how Borderlands 4 pushes boundaries with fresh mechanics and revitalized features, and we're here to break down all the key highlights.

Each Borderlands game introduces new ways to navigate the world, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. We've caught glimpses of the new tools players will wield upon the game's release this September, but the recent gameplay footage offered a more comprehensive view of what's in store.

Vault hunters will benefit from a midair hover feature reminiscent of Destiny, allowing for shooting while in the air or reaching distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook will serve dual purposes in combat and exploration, complemented by a dash ability for those critical last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a staple in Borderlands 4, and players will now have the ability to summon their rides, including the new Digirunner, at any location of their choosing.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases touched on the new Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, the State of Play placed a spotlight on the gun manufacturers. Borderlands 4 features eight companies arming players, including three new additions: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each bringing unique weapon designs and abilities to the table.

The game takes a step further with the introduction of the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be assembled from components supplied by different manufacturers. Imagine wielding an assault rifle with elemental parts from Maliwan, a Torgue-made ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons will boast more parts, intensifying the hunt for those coveted loot drops.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The State of Play for Borderlands 4 focuses on two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex utilizes Siren abilities to summon allies in battle, while Rafa constructs tools like Ark Knives to swiftly dismantle foes. The showcased gameplay features the duo navigating the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.

Borderlands 4 continues the tradition of blending familiar faces with new characters. Notable returnees include Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of further exploration into Lilith's story. Newcomers include Rush, a towering armored figure, and Echo 4, a robot companion that will assist players throughout the game by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 aims to enhance the co-op experience with a streamlined process. Gearbox introduces an "improved lobby system" to facilitate quick and easy connections with friends. Crossplay will be available from launch, ensuring seamless gameplay across platforms with instanced loot and dynamic level scaling.

Party customization is further enriched, allowing each player to set their own difficulty settings independently. For those preferring local play, split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, alongside a feature enabling players to fast travel to their friends if they get separated.

Borderlands 4 has recently 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 planned for later in the year.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford clarifies that this schedule change is not related to the anticipated release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates as Gearbox prepares to unveil further details at their upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.