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Gearbox Software recently concluded its Borderlands 4 State of Play, showcasing 20 minutes of new gameplay and details for their eagerly awaited looter shooter. The presentation dives straight into the action, assuring fans that the 2025 installment will be the studio's most immersive and refined experience to date. Major gameplay innovations, including new traversal mechanics and changes to the loot drop system, were highlighted, promising a thrilling evolution of the series. Gearbox packed the 20-minute showcase with insights into how Borderlands 4 will elevate the franchise with fresh mechanics and enhanced features, and we've compiled all the key points below.
Movement Abilities ------------------Each Borderlands game introduces new ways to navigate the world, and Borderlands 4 is set to continue this trend. We've had glimpses of the innovative tools players will use when the game launches in September, and the latest gameplay footage provided a more detailed look at these upcoming features.
Vault hunters in Borderlands 4 will benefit from a Destiny-inspired midair hover, allowing for shooting while in the air or reaching distant ledges. Additionally, a grappling hook will serve dual purposes in combat and exploration, while a dash feature offers last-second evasion. Vehicles remain a staple, with the ability to spawn them, including the new Digirunner, at your convenience.
Guns and Manufacturers
While previous showcases focused on traversal mechanics, the State of Play spotlighted the gun manufacturers. Eight companies, including three newcomers—Order, Ripper, and Daedalus—will equip players with an array of new weapons.
Each manufacturer brings unique designs and abilities to the table, and Borderlands 4 introduces the Licensed Parts System, revolutionizing gun mechanics. This system allows weapons to combine parts from different manufacturers, such as an assault rifle with Maliwan's elemental components, Torgue's ammo clip, and Hyperion's shield. Higher rarity weapons will feature more parts, intensifying the pursuit of top-tier loot.
Borderlands 4 State of Play Gameplay Screenshots
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Story
The State of Play follows two Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren and Rafa, a former Tediore soldier in an exosuit. Vex uses her Siren powers to summon allies in battle, while Rafa crafts tools like Ark Knives to dismantle foes swiftly. The showcased 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 blending old and new characters. Familiar faces like Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and Claptrap made appearances, with hints about further insights into Lilith's story. New additions include the towering, armored Rush and the helpful robot Echo 4, who will assist players throughout the game by scanning environments, hacking, and guiding lost Vault Hunters.
Multiplayer
Borderlands 4 enhances the co-op experience with streamlined features. Gearbox has introduced "an improved lobby system," making it easier to connect with friends instantly. Crossplay will be supported at launch, ensuring all loot is instanced and levels dynamically scale, allowing seamless gameplay across platforms.
Customization extends to individual difficulty settings within parties, and split-screen couch co-op will be available from the start. Additionally, a new feature enables fast travel to friends, ensuring no one gets left behind.
Borderlands 4 also introduces a reduced chance for Legendary loot drops, dense new skill trees, and more. Players will choose between quick revives and temporary combat buffs with Rep Kit gear, and Ordnances allow filling a cooldown weapons slot with either grenades or unique heavy weapons. Enhancements replace Artifacts, providing bonuses to specific manufacturer guns.Borderlands 4 has moved up its release date by 11 days, from September 23 to September 12, for 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.
Despite fan speculation, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford clarified that the date change is unrelated to the long-awaited release of Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Stay tuned for more details as Gearbox plans to reveal additional information at their upcoming hands-on gameplay event in June.
