Gearbox Software has just concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for this eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, promising that the 2025 release will be the studio’s most immersive and refined experience to date, with significant updates to gameplay mechanics, traversal, and loot systems. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with exciting reveals about new features and enhancements to existing ones, and we've compiled all the key highlights for you right here.
### Movement Abilities ------------------Each Borderlands game brings fresh traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. While we've previously seen glimpses of the new tools players will use when the game launches in September, today's gameplay footage provided a more detailed look at what's in store.
Vault hunters will benefit from a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, enabling shooting while airborne or reaching distant ledges. A grappling hook serves dual purposes for combat and exploration, and a dash feature adds that crucial last-second dodge. Vehicles remain a staple in Borderlands 4, with the ability to spawn them, including the new Digirunner, wherever you choose.
Guns and Manufacturers
Previous showcases focused on Vault Hunter traversal, but today's State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. With eight companies arming players, including three new ones—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—Borderlands 4 introduces fresh weapons with distinctive designs and abilities.
The game also innovates with the Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be composed of parts from different manufacturers. Imagine an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, Torgue's ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Rarer weapons boast more parts, intensifying the thrill of chasing those coveted loot drops.
Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots
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Story
The State of Play follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex harnesses Siren powers to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to dismantle foes on the go. The showcased gameplay featured the duo navigating the cold, open arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.
Borderlands 4 continues the tradition of blending familiar faces with new characters. Returning favorites include Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints of more information about Lilith. Newcomers include the towering, armored Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4, who will accompany players, aiding in exploration by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objectives.
Multiplayer
Borderlands 4 enhances the co-op experience with an improved lobby system, making it easier to team up with friends instantly. Crossplay will be available at launch, with instanced loot and dynamic level scaling ensuring seamless gameplay across platforms.
Customization extends to difficulty settings, allowing each player to choose their own level of challenge. Split-screen couch co-op returns at launch, and a new feature lets players fast travel to their friends if someone gets lost.
Borderlands 4 also introduces a lower chance for Legendary loot drops, along with dense new skill trees. Players will choose between quick revives and temporary combat buffs via Rep Kit gear, while Ordnances allow filling a cooldown weapons slot with grenades or unique heavy weapons. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.Borderlands 4 has moved up its release date for PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S from September 23 to September 12, a shift of 11 days. A version for Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for release later in the year.
Despite fan speculation, Gearbox's Randy Pitchford clarified that the release date adjustment 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 plans to unveil additional insights at an upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.
