Borderlands 4 State of Play April 2025: Everything Announced

Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the highly anticipated looter shooter. The presentation dove straight into the action, heralding the 2025 installment as Gearbox's most refined and immersive experience to date. The studio promises significant gameplay enhancements, from innovative traversal abilities to revamped loot drop systems. The 20-minute showcase was packed with insights into how Borderlands 4 raises the bar with fresh mechanics and rejuvenated features, and we've gathered all the key highlights for you.

Movement Abilities ------------------

Each Borderlands game introduces new ways to navigate the world, and Borderlands 4 continues this tradition. Earlier glimpses hinted at new tools for players, but the recent gameplay footage provided a more detailed preview of what's in store.

Vault hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, enabling them to fire while in the air or reach distant platforms. A versatile grappling hook serves both combat and exploration purposes, complemented by a dash move for those crucial last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a staple in Borderlands 4, with players gaining the ability to spawn their rides, including the new Digirunner, wherever they choose.

Guns and Manufacturers

While previous showcases touched on the new Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, the State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will arm players in their journey, introducing three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each bringing unique weapon designs and capabilities to the table.

Borderlands 4 elevates its gun mechanics with the Licensed Parts System, allowing weapons to be assembled from parts of different 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 thrill of the loot hunt.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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The narrative of Borderlands 4 follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex uses her Siren powers to summon allies in battle, while Rafa constructs tools like Ark Knives for dynamic combat. The gameplay showcased the duo navigating the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.

The game will blend familiar faces with new characters, including returning figures like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of further exploration into Lilith's story. New additions include the imposing Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4, who will assist players throughout Borderlands 4 by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 aims to enhance the co-op experience with a streamlined lobby system, making it easier to connect with friends. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring seamless multiplayer across platforms, with loot instanced for each player and dynamic level scaling for flexible gameplay.

Customization is further refined, allowing individual difficulty settings within parties. Split-screen couch co-op will be available from the start, alongside a fast travel feature to help players reunite with their friends if they get separated.

Borderlands 4 also introduces a lower chance for Legendary loot drops, expansive new skill trees, and additional features. Players will choose between quick revives and temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances offer the option to equip grenades or unique heavy weapons. Enhancements replace Artifacts, granting bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

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

Despite fan speculation, Gearbox's Randy Pitchford clarified that the date change has nothing to do with the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more details as Gearbox gears up for a hands-on gameplay event in June.