With Borderlands 3's controversial narrative now in the past, Gearbox Software is accelerating full speed toward Borderlands 4 and the authoritarian planet of Kairos.
The path to Borderlands 4's release began with a rocky start. While many players embraced Borderlands 3 for refining the series' gunplay, its humor-driven plot and reliance on crude jokes left others divided. By the time Borderlands 4 launches on September 12, 2025, nearly six years will have passed since its predecessor. Fans are now eagerly waiting to see how Gearbox has invested that time.
We spoke with Gearbox narrative director Sam Winkler, lead writer Taylor Clark, and managing director of narrative properties Lin Joyce to understand why the team opted for a more grounded story in Borderlands 4. Our discussion also revealed how the enigmatic Timekeeper can rival Handsome Jack, how polarizing characters like Ava might still play a role in the series, and how the upcoming DLC will align with the main campaign of Borderlands 4.