Gearbox reveals Borderlands 4 gameplay

Gearbox reveals Borderlands 4 gameplay, launching September 12, 2025

New planet, new hunters, new loot, but the same old mayhem

During PlayStation's latest State of Play, 2K and Gearbox Software finally gave us a proper eyeful of the chaotic action coming our way in Borderlands 4. Prepare your trigger fingers, because the next installment of the legendary looter-shooter franchise is officially launching on September 12, 2025. It’s heading to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), with a Nintendo Switch 2 version planned for later in 2025.

The extended gameplay footage introduced two of the four brand-new Vault Hunters we'll be playing as. First up is Vex the Siren, who sounds like she can mess things up properly by empowering herself or summoning deadly shades to join the fray. Then there's Rafa the Exo-Soldier, a former Tediore trooper rocking an experimental suit that can digistruct weapons on the fly. Gearbox reckons the skill tree system is the most advanced yet in the series, letting you really tailor these unique playstyles.

This time, the action unfolds across the vast and seamlessly connected planet of Kairos. Our big bad is the oppressive Timekeeper, a tyrant who's kept Kairos hidden for millennia, controlling its populace with cybernetic 'Bolts' and leading an army of synthetic soldiers called The Order. Players will trek across four distinct regions, encountering new and returning faces (and beasties!), battling unique factions, and recruiting allies to fight the Timekeeper's tyranny.

The gameplay shown saw Vex and Rafa causing mischief in Terminus Range, described as a frigid, mountainous region hiding a secret blacksite. More importantly, it gave us a glimpse of the revamped gear system, promising the "wildest loot chase ever". Get ready for weapons from eight manufacturers (new and old favourites), a nifty 'Licensed Parts' system that mashes up abilities from different brands onto a single gun, and an 'Enhancements' slot to boost weapons based on their maker. Grenades and heavy weapons now share an 'Ordnance' slot that recharges on cooldown (no more hoarding rockets!), and a 'Rep Kit' slot adds utility items for healing or temporary buffs.

Gearbox is also making it easier to buddy up, with a new online party system designed to let friends group up and stay together even when switching game modes. The whole experience is built with co-op in mind, featuring instanced loot (no more fighting over drops!), dynamic level scaling, and individual difficulty settings to keep everyone having fun together throughout the campaign.