Gearbox Software has just concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, unveiling a 20-minute showcase packed with fresh gameplay and exciting details for the highly anticipated looter shooter.

The presentation dives straight into the action, affirming that the 2025 Borderlands installment is the studio's most polished and immersive adventure to date, with significant gameplay enhancements from new traversal options to refined loot mechanics. Throughout the 20-minute showcase, Gearbox detailed how Borderlands 4 elevates the experience with innovative systems and revamped features—here are all the key takeaways.

Movement Abilities

Each Borderlands game introduces new ways to navigate its worlds, and Borderlands 4 continues that tradition. While we had glimpses of new tools arriving with the September release, today's footage offered a comprehensive look at the upcoming upgrades.

Vault Hunters can now utilize a midair hover reminiscent of Destiny, allowing sustained aim during jumps and access to distant platforms. A versatile grappling hook aids both combat and exploration, complemented by a quick dash for evasive maneuvers. Vehicles remain integral, and now players can summon their rides—including the new Digirunner—instantly anywhere on the map.

Guns and Manufacturers

Though prior showcases highlighted the new Vault Hunter movement, today's State of Play emphasized the expanded arsenal. This time, eight weapon manufacturers supply gear—three newcomers, Order, Ripper, and Daedalus, join the lineup alongside returning favorites.

Each manufacturer brings distinct weapon designs and traits. Borderlands 4 innovates further with the Licensed Parts System, enabling guns to combine components from different brands. An assault rifle might feature Maliwan elemental tech, a Torgue magazine, and a Hyperion shield. Higher-rarity weapons include more parts, making the hunt for powerful gear more rewarding than ever.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots

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Story

The Borderlands 4 State of Play introduces two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, an ex-Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex summons spectral allies with Siren powers, while Rafa crafts weapons like Ark Knives for rapid assaults. The demo follows them through frigid, expansive arenas in the Terminus Range, one of four explorable zones on the planet Kairos.

As with previous games, Borderlands 4 blends returning characters with fresh faces. Familiar personalities like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap appear, with hints of Lilith's involvement. New allies include the armored giant Rush and the support bot Echo 4, who assists throughout the campaign by scanning areas, hacking systems, and guiding players to objectives.

Multiplayer

Borderlands 4 streamlines co-op with an improved lobby and seamless friend invites. Crossplay is supported at launch, with individual loot instances and dynamic level scaling ensuring balanced play across platforms.

Parties gain further flexibility via independent difficulty settings, so each player can tailor their challenge. Local split-screen co-op returns, and a new fast-travel option lets players rejoin allies instantly if separated.

Additional features include rarer Legendary drops, expanded skill trees, and Rep Kits that let players choose instant revival or combat boosts. Ordnances slot lets you equip grenades or heavy weapons, while Enhancements replace Artifacts, granting bonuses to guns from specific manufacturers.

Borderlands 4's release on PC via Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S has been moved up 11 days from September 23 to September 12. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for later this year.

Despite fan theories, Gearbox head Randy Pitchford confirmed the date change is unrelated to Take-Two Interactive's long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6. More Borderlands 4 details will emerge ahead of Gearbox's hands-on gameplay event in June.