The excitement surrounding Borderlands 4 reached new heights during the April 2025 State of Play, where a comprehensive 20-minute gameplay deep dive was unveiled. This segment focused on showcasing the game's innovative features and mechanics, providing fans with a detailed look at what they can expect from this much-anticipated looter shooter. In this article, we'll delve into the new details revealed and explore the fan theories behind the game's adjusted launch date.
Borderlands 4 State of Play New Details Revealed
20-Minute Gameplay Deep Dive Video
The Borderlands 4 State of Play, streamed on April 30, offered a thrilling glimpse into the game through a new 20-minute gameplay deep dive video. This video introduced players to 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.
Additionally, the gameplay showcased the new planet of Kairos, a world fraught with warring factions, dangerous wildlife, and desperate inhabitants, all under the oppressive rule of the Timekeeper. Players will embark on a mission to spark a revolution against this tyrant, aligning with unique factions and enlisting them in their cause. Familiar faces like Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane return to assist players on their journey.
The deep dive also highlighted new gameplay features, including the innovative licensed Parts system, which allows players to customize weapons by mixing and matching behaviors and abilities. New Gear slots enable more specialized builds, and the introduction of the Digirunner vehicle adds an exciting new dimension to exploration and combat.
Gearbox Denies Launch Date Change is Influenced by Other Games
Prior to the State of Play, Gearbox Software announced that Borderlands 4 would be released two weeks earlier than originally planned. The studio attributed this change to the "incredible development work" on the game. However, this move sparked speculation among fans, many of whom pointed to potential release conflicts with Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6).
Given that both Gearbox Software and Rockstar Games, the developers of Borderlands 4 and GTA 6 respectively, are owned by Take-Two Interactive, fans speculated that the companies might be coordinating their release schedules. This theory was fueled by Take-Two's earlier statements about their release windows. During an earnings call in November 2024, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed intentions to release GTA 6 in Fall 2025, emphasizing that this would not conflict with Borderlands 4's planned launch within the company's 2026 fiscal year.
However, Gearbox Entertainment CEO Randy Pitchford took to Twitter (X) on April 30 to dispel these rumors. He affirmed that the decision to advance the release date was purely based on the studio's confidence in their product, stating, "Our decision is literally 0% about any other product’s actual or theoretical launch date."
Regardless of the reasons behind the change, fans can look forward to experiencing Borderlands 4 sooner than anticipated. The game is now set to launch on September 12, 2025, across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates by checking out our related articles below!
