Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for the eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, emphasizing that the 2025 installment is set to be the studio's most immersive and refined experience to date. With significant gameplay overhauls, including new traversal abilities and alterations to the loot drop system, Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights on how Borderlands 4 elevates the series. Here are the key takeaways.
Movement Abilities ------------------Each Borderlands game refreshes its traversal mechanics, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. Early glimpses hinted at new tools for players, and the gameplay footage from today’s event provided a more comprehensive view of what to expect.
Vault Hunters will now benefit from a Destiny-inspired midair hover, enabling them to shoot while in the air or reach distant ledges. A versatile grappling hook serves both combat and exploration needs, while a new dash ability allows for quick evasive maneuvers. Vehicles remain a crucial part of Borderlands 4, with the introduction of the Digirunner and the ability to summon your ride at any location.
Guns and Manufacturers
While previous showcases highlighted traversal mechanics, the State of Play put a spotlight on gun manufacturers. Eight companies, including three new ones—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—will arm players on their journey. Each manufacturer offers unique weapon designs and abilities.
Borderlands 4 introduces the Licensed Parts System, a new twist on gun mechanics. Weapons can now be composed of parts from different manufacturers, allowing for combinations like an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, a Torgue ammo clip, and a Hyperion shield. Higher rarity weapons feature more parts, making the pursuit of legendary loot drops more vital than ever.
Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots
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Story
The State of Play follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who uses her abilities to summon allies in battle, and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit, who crafts tools like Ark Knives for combat. The gameplay features the duo navigating the cold, expansive arenas of the Terminus Range, one of four zones on the planet Kairos.
Borderlands 4 continues the tradition of mixing old and new characters. Familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap appear, with hints of more about Lilith to come. New characters include the imposing Rush and the utility robot Echo 4, which aids players in exploration, scanning, hacking, and guiding them to objectives.
Multiplayer
Gearbox has streamlined the co-op experience for Borderlands 4. An enhanced lobby system and crossplay at launch make joining friends easier. Loot is instanced per player, and dynamic level scaling allows seamless gameplay across platforms.
Customization within parties has been expanded, allowing individual difficulty settings. Split-screen couch co-op and the ability to fast travel to friends enhance the multiplayer experience.
Borderlands 4 also introduces a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, along with dense new skill trees. Players can choose between quick revives or temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, and Ordnances allow for either grenades or heavy weapons in a cooldown slot. Enhancements replace Artifacts, offering bonuses to specific manufacturers' guns.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 slated for later in the year.
Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford clarified that the date change is not related to the anticipated release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. More details on Borderlands 4 are expected as we approach Gearbox's hands-on gameplay event in June.
