The time has come, Vault Hunters.
After a long wait and a steady stream of reveals, Borderlands 4 is finally here. Unless you’re waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2, you’ll be able to drop into the chaos of Gearbox’s new looter-shooter very, very soon.
From new playable characters and a brand-new planet to a complete overhaul of gun mechanics, there’s a lot to break down. We’ve compiled a full recap of all the key details you need to know before you start your adventure.
Release Date and Platforms
The wait is almost over. Borderlands 4 officially launches on September 12, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. For Nintendo fans, the game will arrive a month later on October 3, 2025, as a launch title for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.
The game will skip the previous generation of consoles, as PS4 and Xbox One were left out of the platform lineup. Gearbox has also confirmed the minimum PC requirements, so players can make sure their rigs are ready for the action.
New Planet, New Chaos
Say goodbye to Pandora. Borderlands 4 takes us to a brand-new planet called Kairos, a world that was kept hidden for thousands of years by an oppressive figure known as the Timekeeper. But that’s all about to change.
According to Gearbox, a rogue moon from Pandora, which was teleported by the famed Vault Hunter Lilith, has now pierced the planet’s protective veil. This kickstarts a new era of chaos that you, as a legendary Vault Hunter, will get to be a part of. The world of Kairos is described as a “prison planet” with four seamlessly connected zones and next to no loading times, making it the most open and free Borderlands game to date.
The New Vault Hunters
Gearbox is continuing its tradition of introducing a new cast of playable characters with four new Vault Hunters for this adventure.
- Vex, the Siren: A supernatural character who can conjure minions with her phase energy.
- Rafa, the Exo-Soldier: A melee-focused, battle-ready veteran who uses an experimental exo-suit.
- Amon, the Forge Knight: A tanky character who uses weaponized drones and a Forge arsenal for both attack and defense.
- Harlowe, the Combat Scientist: A tech-savvy character who uses new gadgets and tech to inflict cryo or radiation damage and buff her allies.
Familiar faces like Zane, Moxxi, and the ever-present Claptrap will also return, but the focus is clearly on this new squad and the fresh stories they’ll bring to the world.
A New Era of Loot
The core of any Borderlands game is the loot, and this time, the system has been completely revamped. Gearbox has introduced a “Licensed Parts” system, allowing players to find guns that combine the behaviors of multiple manufacturers into a single weapon. This promises an “unprecedented level of expression” and billions of unique combinations.
The studio is also re-evaluating the Legendary drops. In Borderlands 3, Legendaries were common, but in the new system, they will be “truly special events,” making every legendary find a moment to remember.
Co-op and More
Borderlands 4 will feature full co-op support, including:
- 4-player online co-op
- 2-player split-screen couch co-op
- Cross-play support across all platforms.
Gearbox has also made key quality-of-life improvements. You can now set your own campaign difficulty independently of your friends, and looting is instanced for each player, so no more fighting over gear. Fast travel has also been improved, allowing you to easily teleport to your friends’ location if you get separated.
With a deeper RPG system, improved movement, and a new cinematic approach, Gearbox is confident this will be the best Borderlands game yet. The studio has been developing the game for “several years,” and their confidence, combined with the new details we’ve seen, suggests fans will be “very, very happy” with the result. The time to drop in is now.
