Borderlands 4 State of Play April 2025: Everything Announced

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the much-anticipated looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 installment will be the studio’s most refined and immersive experience to date, with significant gameplay enhancements including new traversal abilities and a revamped loot drop system. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with exciting reveals about the new mechanics and refreshed features of Borderlands 4, and here are all the key highlights.

Each Borderlands game introduces new traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. We've had glimpses of the new tools players will wield when the game launches in September, but today's gameplay footage provided a comprehensive look at what's in store.

Vault hunters can now utilize a Destiny-inspired midair hover, allowing them to shoot while airborne or reach distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook is available for both combat and exploration, alongside a dash for those critical last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a central feature in Borderlands 4, with the ability to spawn rides, including the new Digirunner, at any location.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases focused on Vault Hunter traversal, today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will supply the weapons for players' adventures, introducing three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus.

Each manufacturer offers unique weapon designs and abilities. Borderlands 4 elevates its gun mechanics with the introduction of the Licensed Parts System. Now, guns can be composed of parts from various manufacturers, such as an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, Torgue's ammo clip, and Hyperion's shield. Higher rarity weapons feature more parts, intensifying the excitement of the loot hunt.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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

Borderlands 4 continues the series' tradition of blending old and new characters. Familiar faces such as Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap make appearances, with hints of more to come about Lilith. New characters include the imposing Rush and the supportive robot Echo 4. Echo 4 will accompany players throughout Borderlands 4, assisting with exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objective.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 enhances the co-op experience with streamlined joining processes and an improved lobby system. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring all loot is instanced and levels dynamically scale, allowing for seamless play across platforms.

Customization within parties is taken further with individual difficulty settings for each player. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, along with a feature enabling players to fast travel to their friends if separated.

Borderlands 4 recently moved up its release date by 11 days from September 23 to September 12 for PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is set to release later in the year.

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford confirmed that the date change is not related to the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more details on Borderlands 4, with Gearbox planning to unveil further insights during an upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.