''Borderlands 4'' is an upcoming

action role-playing An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a video game genre that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing game genres. Definition Action role-playing games emphasize real-time combat wh ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

developed by

Gearbox Software Gearbox Software, L.L.C is an American video game developer, video game development company based in Frisco, Texas. It was established as a limited liability company in February 1999 by five developers formerly of Rebel Boat Rocker. Randy Pitch ...

and published by 2K. It is a sequel to ''

Borderlands 3 ''Borderlands 3'' is a 2019 action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. It is a sequel to 2012's '' Borderlands 2'', and the fourth entry in the main ''Borderlands'' series. ''Borderla ...

'' (2019) and the fifth entry in the main '' ''Borderlands'' series. The game is scheduled to release for

PlayStation 5 The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North ...

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

, and

Xbox Series X/S The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in the Xbox series, succeeding the previous generation's Xbox One. Released on November 10, 2020, the higher-end Xbox Series X and lower-end Xbox Series S are part o ...

on September 12, 2025, and the

Nintendo Switch 2 The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo, released in most regions on June5, 2025. Like the original Nintendo Switch, Switch, it can be used as a Handheld game console, handheld, as a Tablet computer, tablet, or connected via ...

at a later date.

Gameplay

As with its predecessors, the game is a first-person looter shooter with elements commonly found in

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 A grappling hook or grapnel is a device that typically has multiple hooks (known as ''claws'' or ''flukes'') attached to a rope or cable; it is thrown, dropped, sunk, projected, or fastened directly by hand to where at least one hook may cat ...

, are introduced in ''Borderlands 4''. The game can be played solo or

cooperatively Cooperation (written as co-operation in British English and, with a varied usage along time, coöperation) takes place when a group of organisms works or acts together for a collective benefit to the group as opposed to working in competition ...

with three other players. 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, 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".

Development and release

Developer

began working on the game prior to the release of ''

'' (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 In video games, an open world is a virtual world in which the Gamer, player can approach objectives freely, as opposed to a world with more linear and structured gameplay. Notable games in this category include ''The Legend of Zelda (video game ...

", Gearbox CEO

Randy Pitchford Randall Steward Pitchford II (born April 21, 1971) is an American businessman. He co-founded the video game development studio Gearbox Software in 1999 and was president and CEO of the company until 2021, upon which he became CEO and president ...

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 Emergent gameplay refers to complex situations in video games, board games, or role-playing games that emerge from the interaction of relatively simple game mechanics. Designers have attempted to encourage emergent play by providing tools to play ...

, in which the playable Vault Hunters will react to actions performed by players. 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.

Take-Two Interactive Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is an American video game holding company based in New York City founded by Ryan Brant in September 1993. The company owns three major Imprint (trade name), publishing labels, Rockstar Games, Zynga and 2K ...

, following its acquisition of Gearbox from

Embracer Group Embracer Group AB (formerly Nordic Games Licensing AB and THQ Nordic AB) is a Swedish video game and media holding company based in Karlstad. The company comprises 8 operative groups: Amplifier Game Invest, CDE Entertainment, Coffee Stain Studi ...

in March 2024, confirmed that a new title in the ''Borderlands'' series was in development. Publisher 2K officially revealed the title in August 2024, and released its first gameplay footage at

The Game Awards 2024 The Game Awards 2024 was an award show to honor the best video games of 2024. It was the eleventh show hosted by Geoff Keighley, creator and producer of the Game Awards, and held with a live audience at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Dece ...

. The game was originally scheduled to release for

, and

on September 23, 2025. On April 29, 2025, citing progress on the game, Pitchford announced that ''Borderlands 4'' would now release ahead of schedule on September 12.

Notes

References

External links

* {{Gearbox Software Upcoming video games scheduled for 2025 2K games Gearbox Software games Borderlands (series) games Looter shooters First-person shooters Action role-playing video games Video games developed in the United States Windows games PlayStation 5 games Xbox Series X and Series S games Video games set on fictional planets Multiplayer and single-player video games Video game sequels Unreal Engine 5 games Nintendo Switch 2 games