The State of Play event for Borderlands 4 delivered an exciting 20-minute gameplay deep dive, showcasing new features and mechanics. Dive into the new details unveiled and explore the speculated reasons behind the game's launch date adjustment.

Borderlands 4 State of Play: New Details Unveiled

20-Minute Gameplay Deep Dive Video

The Borderlands 4 State of Play, which streamed on April 30, offered fans an in-depth look at the upcoming looter shooter. The 20-minute gameplay video introduced two of the four new Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who harnesses supernatural phase energy to boost her powers 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 unveiled the new planet Kairos, characterized by its warring factions, dangerous wildlife, and desperate inhabitants, all under the rule of the oppressive Timekeeper. Players will ignite a revolution against this tyrant, meeting and recruiting unique factions along the way. Returning fan-favorites Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane will assist in this epic quest.

New features showcased include the innovative licensed Parts system, allowing players to customize weapon behaviors and abilities, additional Gear slots for specialized builds, and the introduction of the Digirunner vehicle, among other thrilling additions.

Gearbox Denies Launch Date Change is Influenced by Other Games

Prior to the State of Play, Gearbox Software announced an earlier release date for Borderlands 4, moving it up by two weeks. The studio attributed this shift to "incredible development work," but fans speculated about other factors, particularly the rumored release plans of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6).

Both Gearbox Software and Rockstar Games, the developers of Borderlands and GTA respectively, are owned by Take-Two Interactive. This connection led fans to theorize that the date change might be influenced by corporate strategies, especially after Take-Two's statements about their game release windows.

During Take-Two Interactive's November 2024 earnings call, the company expressed plans to launch GTA 6 in Fall 2025. CEO Strauss Zelnick reassured that this would not conflict with Borderlands 4's release window, originally set within Take-Two's fiscal year 2026 (April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026). In a November 2024 interview with Variety, Zelnick stated, "I think it’s safe to say that we wouldn’t, and no one would, stack up huge releases unnecessarily."

However, Gearbox Entertainment CEO Randy Pitchford addressed these speculations via Twitter (X) on April 30, emphasizing that the decision to ship early was purely due to confidence in the product. "Our decision is literally 0% about any other product’s actual or theoretical launch date," Pitchford clarified.

Regardless of the reasons behind the change, fans can look forward to experiencing Borderlands 4 sooner than anticipated. The game is now scheduled for release on September 12, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay updated with the latest on Borderlands 4 by checking our dedicated article.