Borderlands 4 Gameplay Deep Dive Was Main Focus of April 2025 State of Play

The State of Play event held on April 30, 2025, treated fans to an exciting 20-minute deep dive into the gameplay of the eagerly awaited Borderlands 4. This looter shooter game has unveiled new features and mechanics that promise to elevate the gaming experience to new heights. Here's a comprehensive look at the new details revealed and the community's speculation about the shift in the game's launch date.

20-Minute Gameplay Deep Dive Video

The latest PlayStation State of Play showcased a detailed video featuring two of the four new Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa the Exo-Soldier. Vex harnesses supernatural phase energy to empower herself and summon lethal minions, while Rafa, a former Tediore trooper, dons an experimental exo-suit that can digistruct a versatile arsenal of weapons.

Players will explore the new planet of Kairos, a battleground of warring factions, dangerous wildlife, and desperate inhabitants, all under the iron grip of the Timekeeper. The mission is to spark a revolution against this tyrannical ruler, aligning with unique factions along the way. Familiar faces like Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane return to assist in this epic quest.

The gameplay video also introduced the innovative licensed Parts system, allowing players to customize their weapons by mixing and matching different behaviors and abilities. New Gear slots enhance the potential for specialized builds, and the introduction of the Digirunner vehicle adds another layer of excitement to the gameplay.

Gearbox Denies Launch Date Change is Influenced by Other Games

Before the State of Play, Gearbox Software announced an advancement of Borderlands 4’s release date by two weeks, attributing it to "incredible development work." However, fans speculated that this decision might be influenced by the release plans of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6).

Given that both Gearbox Software and Rockstar Games, the developers of Borderlands and GTA respectively, are under the umbrella of Take-Two Interactive, fans believed there could be strategic scheduling at play. This was fueled by Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick's comments during an earnings call in November 2024, where he emphasized a Fall 2025 release for GTA 6 and stated that it would not conflict with Borderlands 4's planned launch within the fiscal year 2026.

Gearbox Entertainment CEO Randy Pitchford took to Twitter (X) on April 30 to clarify that the decision to ship Borderlands 4 early was purely based on the studio's confidence in their product. He emphasized, "Our decision is literally 0% about any other product’s actual or theoretical launch date."

Despite the speculation, fans are thrilled to learn that Borderlands 4 will hit the shelves earlier than anticipated, with a new release date set for September 12, 2025. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new addition to the Borderlands franchise!