Borderlands 4 is coming in 2025. It's somehow already been over five years since the last mainline installment landed, so I am eagerly anticipating another opportunity to loot and shoot my way around a delightfully alien world. That's especially true for Borderlands 4, with Gearbox Software pushing us away from Pandora and onto a brand new planet, along with four new Vault Hunters for company.
We know that we'll be blasting off in search of alien treasure, just as we have in so many of the best Borderlands games, although Gearbox has teased that it's looking to expand the RPG elements of the series further. Company CEO Randy Pitchford says, "All of us at Gearbox have massive ambitions for Borderlands 4 and are putting everything we have into making everything we love about Borderlands better than ever before while taking the game to new levels in exciting new directions."
It's exciting times, especially since we recently got a shiny new gameplay trailer during The Game Awards 2024! So, for all the latest Borderlands 4 news and information, keep reading to find everything we know so far about one of the most anticipated new games for 2025.
Borderlands 4 release date speculation
Gearbox Software has confirmed that Borderlands 4 will be released in 2025, although the developer stopped short of putting a firm date on it – although we do know it will also be in "during Take-Two’s Fiscal Year 2026", so expect it to launch in fall.
This tracks with the core Borderlands trilogy, which launched in September and October. Borderlands 3 landed in 2019, while spin-off Tiny Tina's Wonderland dropped in 2022. During The Game Awards 2024, we got to see a fancy new trailer for the game, so it's only a matter of time before we get a firm release date. So, watch this space!
Borderlands 4 trailer
The first Borderlands 4 trailer doesn't feature any actual gameplay, but it does set the tone for what Gearbox is trying to capture here. You can watch the teaser above, which showcases a fractured planet under siege from the skies. However, below you can also find the latest trailer for Borderlands 4, which was revealed during The Game Awards 2024.
While this new trailer is also mainly cinematics, it does show some gameplay, with players stalking around different environments and shooting at enemies. We also see some platforming in the teaser, as well as some cool abilities being used to crowd-control targets. Hopefully, we'll get another trailer soon that offers some story insights. But for now, this clip is pretty dang impressive and has us excited to see more.
Borderlands 4 platforms
Borderlands 4 will launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. 2K Games has confirmed that the title will launch on both the Epic Game Store and Steam storefronts. While Gearbox hasn't confirmed this firmly, it looks like Borderlands 4 won't be on PS4 or Xbox One as the platforms were missing from the reveal trailer.
First Borderlands 4 gameplay details
There are only a few Borderlands 4 gameplay details out there right now, with Gearbox keeping the game tightly under wraps after the reveal. So, what do we know so far? For starters, the developer won't be drastically altering the structure of this new Borderlands game. You'll "assume the role of a legendary Vault Hunter" as you blast your way through "hordes of enemies in search of new treasures to loot on an all-new planet." And yes, Borderlands 4 will still be a looter shooter.
Gearbox has said that a principal focus for Borderlands 4 is in the balance of approachability and complexity. "I think our RPG side of the game is so important," says creative director Graeme Timmins. "Just like our first-person side, where we're always looking to expand and add depth, we're doing that on the RPG side, but we don't want to do that at the cost of complexity."
Borderlands 4 setting
The Borderlands 4 setting has been confirmed, and it's taking us away from Pandora. Gearbox has confirmed that the new game will be set on an "all-new planet" – a massive shock to the system, given that the original trilogy of games (and Tales from the Borderlands) all featured Pandora. We're still waiting on more info, but the above concept art shows what Gearbox is shooting for this time around.
Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters
Gearbox has confirmed that Borderlands 4 will feature four new Vault Hunters, with the studio continuing its tradition of cycling new playable characters into the fold. It's yet to be confirmed whether any returning heroes will show up as NPCs, but we do know that the new Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters will fulfil traditional archetypal roles, such as 'soldier' and 'mage' as Gearbox looks for new ways to push the scope of play. "We think it's important that we switch it up and not do just rote designs, game to game," says creative director Graeme Timmins.
Borderlands 4 development
Borderlands 4 is being developed by Gearbox Software, the studio responsible for all mainline games in the franchise. The Gearbox CEO says that Borderlands 4 has been in development for "several years" – the studio's last game was Tiny Tina's Wonderlands in 2022. Borderlands 4 will be published by 2K Games – just as it did with the previous titles. This will, however, be the first Borderlands game to release with Gearbox Software operating as an owned and operated 2K studio – the company was acquired by Take-Two Interactive in 2024.
Borderlands 4 has long been teased by both Take-Two and Gearbox. The game appeared on the Linkedin page for a former employee of a Gearbox support studio last year, and the publisher confirmed Borderlands 4 to be in active development back in March 2024. Randy Pitchford also started name dropping the game while trying to get out ahead of the adaptation – our Borderlands movie review didn't paint a glowing picture. Still, Pitchford recently told 12DOVE that "I’m confident that our fans are going to be very, very happy with the next video game project," and the studio is certainly on the right track after that recent Game Awards trailer.
Looking for something new to play? Why not check out the upcoming PS5 games we think you should have on your radar right now.
