Next Installment in Borderlands Series: Insights onUpcoming Co-op First-Person Shooter Game by Gearbox Software

Let's Dish on Borderlands 4

Next Installment in Borderlands Series: Insights onUpcoming Co-op First-Person Shooter Game by Gearbox Software

Gearbox blasted Borderlands 4 into the gaming world after shipping Borderlands 3 in 2019, and now, after merging with Embracer Group and a brief stint with Take-Two Interactive, the highly-anticipated game is nearly ready to drop.

The game's been through some turbulent waves, but Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford took it all in stride. After the Borderlands movie received lackluster reviews, Pitchford responded on Twitter:

"So what you're saying is: You like what my friends and I do with our Borderlands videogames even more than you like what some of the biggest and best cast and crew of film makers on the planet have done. I'm super flattered! We're working extra hard for you on what's next."

Fast forward to now, and here's the lowdown on Borderlands 4!

Release Date

When will we be able to sink our teeth into some alien loot? Borderlands 4 drops on September 12, 2025. The release date was initially planned for September 23, but Gearbox announced in April that the date was being moved up a week.

In the same vein as fierce competitors Grand Theft Auto VI, Borderlands 4 will be released in the second half of 2025, although no confirmation has been made about the latter's console launch.

Trailers and Story

We've had four trailers for Borderlands 4 so far, each providing tantalizing glimpses into its universe:

1. Teaser Trailer: August 2024 - Showcased the aftermath of the events from Borderlands 3 and introduced the antagonist, The Timekeeper.
2. Trailer at The Game Awards: 2024 - Picked up where the Teaser left off, re-introduced Lilith, and further detailed the villainy of The Timekeeper.
3. Gameplay Trailer at Sony's State of Play: February 2025 - Showed off candid gameplay footage including a glimpse at the new planet, Kairos.
4. Deep Dive: April 2025 - A 20-minute video providing more backstory to the game, alongside details about the new vault hunters and features.

All of the trailers can be found on the Borderlands YouTube channel.

The Story

The story of Borderlands 4 follows six years after an unwanted moon showed up on Kairos. Borderlands 4 takes place on this new planet, which has been "completely hidden" from the galaxy until now, so we likely won't find any references to it in the existing Borderlands lore. The planet was once under The Timekeeper's control through mind-control implants called "bolts" and synthetic soldiers known as "The Order," but Lilith's actions caused the moon to crash into his cloaking device, wreaking havoc on the ecosystem.

Now, the people of Kairos are freeing themselves from their bolts and banding together to rise against The Timekeeper. The game starts with the aftermath of this revolution.

The Vault Hunters

We know that there will be four new Vault Hunters, but details about them are scarce:

1. Vex: a winged, assassin-like Siren with the ability to summon ghost-like minions and augment her skills.
2. Rafa: a former Tediore soldier who uses an experimental exo-suit capable of digistructing an arsenal of weapons.
3. Harlowe: a rugged Gravitar warrior, but details about his abilities are under wraps.
4. Amon: the fourth Vault Hunter in the roster[2][3][4].

New Features

Gun Manufacturers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Borderlands 4 will continue to feature familiar gun manufacturers such as Jacobs, Maliwan, Vladof, Tediore, and Torque. However, three new manufacturers have been introduced:

1. Order: producers of powerful charge-and-release blasts.
2. Ripper: known for creating fully automatic weapons.
3. Daedalus: manufacturers of dependable, multiple-ammo types guns.

Grenades and Heavy Weapons^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

In Borderlands 4, grenades and heavy weapons no longer require ammunition. Instead, they operate on a cooldown system, encouraging more frequent use in combat rather than just boss fights.

Loot Drop Rates^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

To make rarity matter again, Gearbox has reduced the drop rate of Legendaries. All guns in the game are supposed to feel great, regardless of rarity[6].

Loot Obliteration^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Borderlands 4 has introduced Loot Obliteration, a destructible terrain feature that permanently eliminates loot from the environment. This adds a layer of scarcity and competition to the game[7].

Weather and Events^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

To keep the game dynamic, Borderlands 4 features a new weather system with different weather conditions affecting gameplay. Elemental damage is also affected by weather conditions[8].

Emblem Customization^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

In Borderlands 4, players will be able to customize their emblems to their liking, adding a personal touch to their characters[9].

AI Uptime Restrictions^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Scheduled downtime for AI systems could lead to less AI activity in the game[8].

In-Game Purchases^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Borderlands 4 will feature an in-game store where players can purchase cosmetic items, such as character skins and weapon skins[10].

Cult Following^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A mysterious cult known as the Children of the Vault has emerged, adding another layer of intrigue to the game[9].

Maximum Players^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Borderlands 4 supports up to 4-player online co-op and 2-player splitscreen couch co-op on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S[6].

Cameo Appearances^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

During the April 2025 Deep Dive, it was announced that legendary voice actors competing in the Borderlands Voiceover Competition would be included in the game as NPCs[8].

False Information

There has been some misinformation circulating online regarding the game, including:

1. Active Skill Trees: Some users believe that as in previous games, players will be able to choose their character's active skills from different trees. In fact, character skills have been streamlined and players will only have a limited number of skill choices[6].
2. Meatbags (NPCs): There has been speculation that NPCs in the game would be meatbags, similar to those in Bioshock. However, there is no confirmation on this feature in Borderlands 4[11].
3. The Spyro Crossover: Rumors have been circulating about a Spyro crossover event in Borderlands 4. However, Gearbox has neither confirmed nor denied these reports[12].
4. The release date for Borderlands 4 is set for September 12, 2025, a week earlier than initially planned.
5. The Borderlands YouTube channel hosts all the trailers for Borderlands 4, each providing glimpses into the game's universe.
6. The story of Borderlands 4 takes place on Kairos, a new planet hidden from the galaxy until now, which was once under the control of The Timekeeper.
7. Borderlands 4 will feature four new Vault Hunters, including Vex, Rafa, Harlowe, and Amon.
8. Gearbox has introduced three new gun manufacturers in Borderlands 4: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus.
9. In Borderlands 4, grenades and heavy weapons no longer require ammunition, operating instead on a cooldown system.
10. Raid members and fans eagerly await the release of Borderlands 4 and the debut of the new Vault Hunters, as Randy Pitchford, the honcho of Gearbox, continues to tease updates on Twitter.

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