Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling an exciting 20 minutes of new gameplay and details from this much-anticipated looter shooter. The showcase jumped straight into the action, promising that the 2025 installment of Borderlands will be Gearbox's most immersive and refined experience to date. This edition promises significant gameplay enhancements, from innovative traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute presentation with insights into how Borderlands 4 elevates the series with fresh mechanics and enhanced existing features, and we've compiled all the key highlights for you.
Movement Abilities ------------------Each Borderlands game introduces new ways to traverse the world, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. While previous showcases teased some of the new tools players will wield upon its September release, today's gameplay footage offered a more detailed glimpse into what's coming.
Vault hunters can now utilize a Destiny-inspired midair hover, allowing for shooting on the move or reaching distant ledges. Additionally, a versatile grappling hook serves both combat and exploration needs, while a quick dash enables last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a core feature in Borderlands 4, with the freedom to spawn rides like the new Digirunner anywhere on the map.
Guns and Manufacturers
While we've seen snippets of new Vault Hunter traversal mechanics before, today's State of Play put the spotlight firmly on gun manufacturers. Eight companies will arm players in this adventure, including three new entrants: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each bringing unique weapon designs and abilities.
Borderlands 4 introduces a groundbreaking Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be composed of parts from various manufacturers. Imagine an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, Torgue's ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons will feature more parts, intensifying the quest for those coveted loot drops.
Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots
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Story
The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows the adventures of two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier encased in an exosuit. Vex uses her Siren powers to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to swiftly dismantle foes. The showcased gameplay takes place in the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.
The narrative will continue the series' tradition of reintroducing familiar faces alongside new characters. Notable appearances included Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of more to come about Lilith. New additions include Rush, a towering armored figure, and Echo 4, a helpful robot that will accompany players, aiding with scanning, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.
Multiplayer
Borderlands 4 enthusiasts will appreciate the streamlined co-op experience Gearbox is offering. An enhanced lobby system facilitates easier connections with friends, while crossplay support at launch ensures seamless gameplay across platforms. All loot is instanced, and dynamic level scaling allows for enjoyable play regardless of your friends' levels.
Party customization has been expanded, allowing individual difficulty settings. Split-screen couch co-op returns at launch, and a new feature lets players fast travel to their friends if they get lost.
Borderlands 4 also features a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, dense new skill trees, and more. Players can choose between quick revives or temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances offer the choice between grenades and unique heavy weapons in a cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.Borderlands 4 has 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 slated for later in the year.
Despite fan speculation, Gearbox's Randy Pitchford clarified that this scheduling change has nothing to do with the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates as Gearbox plans a hands-on gameplay event in June.
