The State of Play event in April 2025 brought exciting news for fans of the Borderlands series with a 20-minute deep dive into the gameplay of Borderlands 4. This comprehensive look not only showcased new features and mechanics but also stirred discussions regarding the game's adjusted launch date. Dive into the details revealed during the event and explore the fan theories surrounding the release date change.
20-Minute Gameplay Deep Dive Video
The Borderlands 4 State of Play provided a detailed look at the upcoming looter shooter, streamed on April 30. The 20-minute gameplay video introduced two of the four new Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who harnesses supernatural phase energy to empower herself and summon deadly minions, and Rafa the Exo-Soldier, a former Tediore trooper equipped with an experimental exo-suit that can digistruct an arsenal of weapons.
The gameplay also introduced the new planet of Kairos, a world filled with warring factions, deadly fauna, and desperate inhabitants, all under the oppressive rule of the Timekeeper. Players will embark on a mission to spark a revolution against this tyrant, encountering and recruiting unique factions along the way. Returning fan-favorite characters such as Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane will assist in this epic quest.
New features highlighted in the video include a licensed Parts system, allowing players to mix and match weapon behaviors and abilities, new Gear slots for more specialized builds, the introduction of the Digirunner vehicle, and other thrilling additions.
Gearbox Denies Launch Date Change is Influenced by Other Games
Prior to the State of Play, Gearbox Software announced a two-week advancement in Borderlands 4's release date, attributing the move to the game's "incredible development work." However, this sparked speculation among fans, many of whom believed the change was influenced by the release plans of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6).
The speculation arose due to both Gearbox Software and Rockstar Games, the developers of Borderlands and GTA respectively, being owned by Take-Two Interactive. This connection led fans to theorize that the companies might be coordinating their release schedules, especially after Take-Two's statement in their November 2024 earnings call about releasing GTA 6 in Fall 2025.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick had previously clarified in a November 2024 interview with Variety that there would be no unnecessary stacking of major game releases. Despite these assurances, Gearbox Entertainment CEO Randy Pitchford took to Twitter (X) on April 30 to dispel any speculation, emphasizing that the decision to move up the release date was purely based on confidence in the game's quality. "Our decision is literally 0% about any other product’s actual or theoretical launch date," Pitchford affirmed.
Regardless of the reasons behind the change, fans can look forward to an early release of Borderlands 4, set for September 12, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates and insights into this highly anticipated game.
