The State of Play event dedicated to Borderlands 4 was a thrilling showcase, offering fans a 20-minute deep dive into the game's exciting new features and mechanics. This reveal has stirred excitement among the community, and it also sparked discussions about the game's new release date.
Borderlands 4 State of Play New Details Revealed
20-Minute Gameplay Deep Dive Video
The latest PlayStation State of Play event, which streamed on April 30, 2025, was a treasure trove for fans of the looter shooter genre. The highlight was undoubtedly the 20-minute gameplay deep dive video for Borderlands 4, showcasing two of the game's four new Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who harnesses supernatural phase energy to boost her powers and summon deadly minions, and Rafa the Exo-Soldier, a former Tediore trooper equipped with an experimental exo-suit that can digistruct a versatile arsenal of weapons.
The gameplay video introduced players to the new planet of Kairos, a battleground of warring factions, dangerous wildlife, and desperate inhabitants, all under the iron rule of the Timekeeper. Players will embark on a mission to spark a revolution against this tyrant, forging alliances with unique factions along the way. Familiar faces like Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane will return to assist in this epic quest.
New features such as the innovative Parts system, allowing for the customization of weapon behaviors and abilities, additional Gear slots for specialized builds, and the introduction of the Digirunner vehicle, promise to enhance the gameplay experience even further.
Gearbox Denies Launch Date Change is Influenced by Other Games
Prior to the State of Play, Gearbox Software announced that Borderlands 4's release date had been moved up by two weeks, attributing this decision to the "incredible development work" done on the game. However, this change has fueled speculation among fans, with many pointing fingers at the possible release plans of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6).
The connection between Gearbox Software and Rockstar Games, both under the umbrella of Take-Two Interactive, has led fans to suspect corporate strategy at play. This theory was further fueled by Take-Two Interactive's earnings call in November 2024, where CEO Strauss Zelnick outlined plans for GTA 6 to launch in Fall 2025, within the same fiscal year as Borderlands 4. Zelnick reassured fans that there would be no unnecessary clashing of major releases.
Addressing these speculations head-on, Gearbox Entertainment CEO Randy Pitchford used social media on April 30 to clarify that the decision to move the release date was purely based on confidence in their product, stating, "Our decision is literally 0% about any other product’s actual or theoretical launch date."
Regardless of the reasons behind the date change, fans can look forward to diving into the world of Borderlands 4 earlier than anticipated. The game is now set to launch on September 12, 2025, across multiple platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. For the latest updates on Borderlands 4, be sure to check out our detailed coverage below!
