Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling an exciting 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, asserting that the 2025 installment of Borderlands is the studio's most refined and immersive yet, with substantial gameplay enhancements ranging from new traversal abilities to revamped loot drop mechanics. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights on how Borderlands 4 elevates the experience through innovative mechanics and enhanced existing features. Here are the key highlights:
Movement Abilities ------------------Each Borderlands game introduces fresh traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. We've had glimpses of the new tools players will wield upon the game's September release, but today's gameplay footage provided a more comprehensive view of what's in store.
Vault hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, allowing for shooting while airborne or reaching distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook serves dual purposes in combat and exploration, while a dash feature aids in last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a pivotal element in Borderlands 4, with the new Digirunner and the ability to spawn rides at will enhancing player freedom.
Guns and Manufacturers
While previous showcases highlighted Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will arm players on their journey, introducing three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each with distinctive weapon designs and abilities.
Borderlands 4 pushes the envelope further with the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be composed of various parts from different manufacturers. This means you could encounter an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, a Torgue ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons boast more parts, intensifying the thrill of hunting for significant loot drops.
Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots
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Story
The Borderlands 4 State of Play follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex harnesses Siren abilities to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives for swift enemy takedowns. 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 tradition of blending familiar faces with new ones. Notable returns include Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of more to come about Lilith. New characters include the imposing Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4, who will accompany players throughout the game, assisting with exploration, scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objective.
Multiplayer
Borderlands 4 enhances the co-op experience with a streamlined process. Gearbox introduces "an improved lobby system," making it easier to connect with friends instantly. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring all loot is instanced per player and dynamic level scaling allows for seamless play across platforms.
Party customization is taken to new heights, with individual difficulty settings for each player. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, and a new feature enables fast travel to friends if someone gets lost.
Borderlands 4 also introduces a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, dense new skill trees, and more. Players can choose between quick revives and temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances allow filling a cooldown weapons slot with either grenades or unique heavy weapons. 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 CEO Randy Pitchford clarified that the date change is unrelated to the anticipated release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates as Gearbox prepares to unveil additional details at its upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.
