Gearbox Software recently concluded its exciting Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling 20 minutes of new gameplay and detailed insights into their much-anticipated looter shooter. This presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 installment will be the studio's most immersive and refined experience to date, featuring significant gameplay enhancements from new traversal mechanics to revamped loot systems. Gearbox filled the 20-minute showcase with fresh mechanics and updated features, and we've gathered all the key highlights for you right here.
Movement Abilities ------------------Each Borderlands game introduces innovative traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is set to continue this tradition. While we've had glimpses of the new tools players will have at their disposal upon the game's release this September, the latest gameplay footage offers a more comprehensive look at what's in store.
Vault hunters can now utilize a Destiny-style midair hover, allowing them to shoot while airborne or reach distant ledges. Additionally, a versatile grappling hook will enhance both combat and exploration, and a new dash feature will help with those crucial last-second dodges. Vehicles remain a core component in Borderlands 4, with the ability to spawn them, including the new Digirunner, at any location on the map.
Guns and Manufacturers
While previous showcases highlighted Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will equip players for their adventures, introducing three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each with unique weapon designs and abilities.
Borderlands 4 elevates its gun mechanics with the introduction of the Licensed Parts System. This allows guns to be assembled from a variety of parts from different manufacturers. For example, you could find an assault rifle with elemental components from Maliwan, an ammo clip from Torgue, and a shield from Hyperion. Higher rarity weapons will feature more parts, intensifying the hunt for those coveted loot drops.
Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots
View 17 Images
Story
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 uses Siren abilities to summon beings to aid in battle, while Rafa constructs tools like Ark Knives to dismantle enemies quickly. The showcased gameplay features the duo navigating cold, open arenas in the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.
The narrative will blend familiar faces with new characters, including 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 throughout Borderlands 4. Echo 4 aids in exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their objectives.
Multiplayer
Borderlands 4 introduces several enhancements to its multiplayer experience. Gearbox has streamlined the co-op process with an improved lobby system, making it easier to join friends quickly. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring seamless play across platforms with instanced loot and dynamic level scaling.
Customization within parties is more flexible, allowing each player to set their own difficulty level. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, along with a fast travel feature to reunite with friends if someone gets lost.
Borderlands 4 also introduces a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, dense new skill trees, and numerous other features. Players can choose between quick revives or temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, and Ordnances allow for the selection of grenades or unique heavy weapons in a cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses specific to guns from certain manufacturers.Borderlands 4 has recently advanced its release date on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S by 11 days, from September 23 to September 12. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is slated for release later in the year, though the exact date remains unspecified.
Despite fan speculation, Gearbox's Randy Pitchford confirmed that the release date adjustment is unrelated to the anticipated launch of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more details on Borderlands 4 as Gearbox plans to reveal additional information during their upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.
