Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling 20 minutes of new gameplay and details from its eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, asserting that the 2025 Borderlands entry is the studio's most refined and immersive experience yet. It promises significant gameplay changes, including new traversal abilities and alterations to the loot drop formula. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights into how Borderlands 4 escalates the excitement with innovative mechanics and enhanced features, and we have all the key highlights covered here.
Movement Abilities ------------------Each Borderlands game introduces fresh traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 continues this trend. We've glimpsed some of the new tools players will wield when the game launches this September, but today's gameplay footage offered a clearer view of what to expect.
Vault hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, enabling them to shoot while airborne or reach distant ledges. A grappling hook enhances both combat and exploration, while a dash ability aids in last-second evasions. Vehicles remain a cornerstone of Borderlands 4, with players now able to spawn their rides, including the new Digirunner, anywhere they choose.
Guns and Manufacturers
While previous showcases highlighted Vault Hunter traversal mechanics, today's State of Play focused on the gun manufacturers. Eight companies will supply the weaponry for this adventure, introducing three new ones: Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, each bringing unique weapon designs and abilities.
Borderlands 4 innovates further with its Licensed Parts System, allowing guns to be assembled from various parts sourced from different manufacturers. Imagine an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, a Torgue ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons will feature more parts, intensifying the importance of seeking out those coveted 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, an exosuit-wearing former Tediore soldier. Vex employs Siren abilities to summon beings for battle assistance, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to dismantle enemies swiftly. The gameplay showcases them navigating through the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.
Borderlands 4 continues the tradition of encountering familiar and new faces. Today's presentation featured Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap, with hints about learning more about Lilith. New characters include Rush, a towering, armored figure, and Echo 4, a helpful robot that accompanies players throughout the game, aiding in exploration through scanning, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters to their next objective.
Multiplayer
Borderlands 4 enhances the multiplayer experience with a streamlined co-op process. Gearbox introduces "an improved lobby system" to facilitate easier connections with friends. Crossplay will be available at launch, ensuring all loot is instanced for each player, with dynamic level scaling allowing seamless play across different platforms.
Customization extends to difficulty settings within parties, enabling each player to choose their preferred challenge level. Split-screen couch co-op will be available at launch, and a new feature allows players to fast travel to their friends if someone gets lost.
Borderlands 4 also introduces a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, along with dense new skill trees and more. Rep Kit gear offers choices between quick revives and temporary combat buffs, while Ordnances allow players to equip either grenades or unique heavy weapons in their cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.Borderlands 4 recently advanced its release date on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S by 11 days, moving from September 23 to September 12. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is slated for release later in the year.
Despite fan speculation, Gearbox's Randy Pitchford clarified that the release date adjustment is unrelated to the long-awaited launch of Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more updates on Borderlands 4, with Gearbox set to unveil further details at an upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.
