Borderlands 4

{{Infobox video game

| title = Borderlands 4

| developer = Gearbox Software

| publisher = 2K

| series = Borderlands

| director = Graeme Timmins

| artist = Adam May

| writer = Sam Winkler

| platforms = {{ubl|Nintendo Switch 2|PlayStation 5|Windows|Xbox Series X/S}}

| released = September 12, 2025

| genre = First-person shooter, action role-playing

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| image = Borderlands 4 cover art.jpg

| engine = Unreal Engine 5{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Tyler |date=2024-12-21 |title=Borderlands 4 Confirms Popular Feature Introduced in Borderlands 3 |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/borderlands-4-release-feature-cross-play/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}

}}

Borderlands 4 is an upcoming action role-playing first-person looter shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. It is a sequel to Borderlands 3 (2019) and the fifth entry in the main Borderlands'' series. The game is scheduled to release for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on September 12, 2025, and the Nintendo Switch 2 at a later date.{{Cite web |date= |title=Borderlands 4 - 2K Games |url=https://borderlands.2k.com/borderlands-4/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=2K Games}}

Gameplay

As with its predecessors, the game is a first-person looter shooter with elements commonly found in action role-playing games. Gearbox described the game's world as "seamless", and there will not be any loading screens as players explore new areas. New vehicles and transversal tools, such as a grappling hook, are introduced in Borderlands 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-4s-seamless-world-and-movement-mechanics-will-make-it-hard-for-players-to-go-back/1100-6528427/|title=Borderlands 4's Seamless World And Movement Mechanics Will "Make It Hard For Players To Go Back"|first=Jordan|last= Ramée|date=December 12, 2024|accessdate=December 14, 2024|work=GameSpot}} The game can be played solo or cooperatively with three other players.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/heres-our-first-look-at-borderlands-4-featuring-a-brand-new-planet-and-four-new-vault-hunters|title=Here's our first look at Borderlands 4, featuring a brand-new planet and four new Vault Hunters|first=Victoria|last=Kennedy|work=Eurogamer|date=December 13, 2024|accessdate=December 14, 2024}} It is planned to be the largest and most open ended game in the Borderlands series to date.

Synopsis

Pandora's moon Elpis, after being teleported away by Lilith using her Siren powers,{{efn|As seen in Borderlands 3.}} destroyed the protective barrier of a planet named Kairos. In Borderlands 4, players assume the role of a Vault Hunter who must lead the resistance against a ruthless dictator named the Timekeeper and his army of synthetic followers named the Order on Kairos, while searching for "secret alien treasures".{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/24319512/borderlands-4-trailer-tga-2024|title=Borderlands 4's first trailer is all out war|first=Andrew|last=Webster|work=The Verge|date=December 13, 2024|accessdate=November 14, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/borderlands-4-has-been-revealed-and-yeah-it-looks-very-borderlands-to-us|title=Borderlands 4 has been revealed and, yeah, it looks very Borderlands to us|first=Deni|last=Williams|work=TechRadar|date=December 14, 2024|accessdate=December 14, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/borderlands-4/reveal|title=Borderlands 4 is real, and it's going to drop in 2025|first=Jamie|last=Hore|work=PCGamesN|date=August 20, 2024|accessdate=December 16, 2024}}

Development and release

Developer Gearbox Software began working on the game prior to the release of Borderlands 3 (2019). Gearbox described Kairos as a "seamless" playable space, in which players can explore various locations of interest without being interrupted by any loading screen. While the team avoided using the term "open world", Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford claimed that Borderlands 4 was "the most open and free" game in the franchise, contrasting Borderlands 3{{'}}s planet-hopping structure, which resulted in a more "compartmentalized" design. As with its predecessors, Borderlands 4 was envisioned to be a humorous game, though the team wanted to ensure that the humor derived from emergent gameplay, in which the playable Vault Hunters will react to actions performed by players.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/gearbox-says-borderlands-4s-humor-will-be-grounded-in-its-world-we-want-to-make-sure-that-its-situational-that-it-emerges-naturally/|title=Gearbox says Borderlands 4's humor will be grounded in its world: 'We want to make sure that it's situational, that it emerges naturally'|first=Tyler|last=Wilde|work=PC Gamer|date=August 31, 2024|accessdate=December 14, 2024}} As Borderlands 4 was set in a new planet, the game features an all-new cast. It also offered an opportunity for the art team to create landscape distinct from those on Pandora, with art director Adam May describing Kairos as a "high-tech but lo-fi" setting.{{cite web |last=Wilde |first=Thomas |date=September 6, 2024 |title=Borderlands 4 leads discuss 'making the best Borderlands game to-date' |url=https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/borderlands-4-pax-west-2024-panel-discussion |accessdate=December 14, 2024 |work=Epic Games Store}}

Take-Two Interactive, following its acquisition of Gearbox from Embracer Group in March 2024, confirmed that a new title in the Borderlands series was in development.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-buys-gearbox-from-embracer-confirms-development-on-new-borderlands-game|title=Take-Two Buys Gearbox From Embracer, Confirms Development on New Borderlands Game|first=Rebekah|last=Valentine|work=IGN|date=March 29, 2024|accessdate=December 14, 2024}} Publisher 2K officially revealed the title in August 2024,{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/20/24224587/borderlands-4-2025-gearbox-studios|title=Borderlands 4 is launching in 2025|first=Jay|last=Peters|work=The Verge|date=August 21, 2024|accessdate=December 14, 2024}} and released its first gameplay footage at The Game Awards 2024. The game was originally scheduled to release for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on September 23, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/borderlands-4-trailer-game-awards-1236247658/|title='Borderlands 4' Trailer Teases New Storyline for Gearbox Franchise|date=December 12, 2024|accessdate=December 14, 2024|work=Variety|first=Jennifer|last=Maas}}{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2025-02-12 |title=Borderlands 4 launches September 23 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2025/02/borderlands-4-launches-september-23 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} On April 29, 2025, citing progress on the game, Pitchford announced that Borderlands 4 would now release ahead of schedule on September 12.{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Catherine |date=2025-04-29 |title=Borderlands 4 is releasing over a week earlier than expected because 'the game is awesome, the team is cooking,' and its own dedicated State of Play is coming up 'imminently' |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/borderlands/borderlands-4-is-releasing-over-a-week-earlier-than-expected-because-the-game-is-awesome-the-team-is-cooking-and-its-own-dedicated-state-of-play-is-coming-up-imminently/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}}