Borderlands 4 Unveiled: New Gameplay and Features Revealed

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of fresh gameplay and insights for its eagerly awaited looter shooter.

The showcase dives straight into the action, highlighting that the 2025 Borderlands release is Gearbox’s most polished and immersive yet, introducing significant gameplay enhancements from new movement mechanics to revamped loot systems. Gearbox packed the 20-minute presentation with details on how Borderlands 4 elevates its mechanics and refines core features. Here’s a breakdown of the key reveals.

Movement Abilities

Each Borderlands game evolves its movement mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. While earlier previews hinted at new tools for players when the game launches in September, today’s footage offered a clearer view of what’s in store.

Vault Hunters can now utilize a Destiny-inspired midair hover, enabling shooting while airborne or accessing distant platforms. A grappling hook enhances both combat and exploration, paired with a dash for quick evasions. Vehicles remain central to Borderlands 4, with the new Digirunner among rides players can summon freely across the game world.

Guns and Manufacturers

Past showcases teased Vault Hunter movement, but today’s State of Play spotlighted the weapon manufacturers. Eight companies, including three newcomers—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—supply the arsenal for Borderlands 4’s adventures.

Each new manufacturer brings distinct weapon designs and abilities, complementing returning ones. Borderlands 4 introduces the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to combine parts from different makers. For example, an assault rifle might feature Maliwan’s elemental effects, a Torgue ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher-rarity weapons include more parts, amplifying the thrill of chasing epic loot.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

Story

The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows Vault Hunters Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex summons creatures for combat, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives for on-the-fly enemy takedowns. The duo battles through the icy Terminus Range, one of four explorable zones on the planet Kairos.

The game blends familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap with new characters, including the towering Rush and a supportive robot, Echo 4. This robot aids exploration by scanning environments, hacking systems, and guiding players to objectives. Hints also suggest more details about Lilith may emerge.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 refines co-op with an improved lobby system for seamless friend connections. Crossplay is available at launch, with instanced loot and dynamic level scaling ensuring flexibility across platforms.

Party customization allows individual difficulty settings, while split-screen couch co-op and fast-travel options make group play smoother, ensuring no one gets left behind.

Borderlands 4 introduces denser skill trees, a reduced chance for Legendary loot, and more. Rep Kit gear offers choices between quick revives or temporary combat boosts, while Ordnances provide grenades or unique heavy weapons. Enhancements replace Artifacts, granting bonuses to specific manufacturers’ guns.

Borderlands 4’s release on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S has shifted forward 11 days to September 12. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for later in the year.

Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford clarified that the rescheduling is unrelated to Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6 release. More details on Borderlands 4 are expected at a hands-on gameplay event in June.