With Borderlands 4, one of the most popular co-op shooter series is back – with significantly more power, depth, and experimentation than ever before. The latest State of Play presentation already showed how ambitious developer Gearbox is about to make this chapter. In addition to new faces, there will also be profound changes to the game mechanics that are intended to noticeably refresh the series.
Two of the new exterminators have already been introduced: Vex, a siren with supernatural powers, can summon shadow warriors to the battlefield, who can be used tactically to cause chaos. Fighting alongside her is Rafa, an ex-soldier with a troubled past and a powerful exo-suit that equips him with an entire weapons factory on two legs. Their abilities already hint at how versatile the combat will be in the future.
The environment in which the action takes place is called Kairos – a planet that has lost its freedom through cybernetic control and digital surveillance. A mysterious adversary who calls himself the Timekeeper pulls the strings and keeps the population in check with an army of synthetic soldiers and implanted mind control devices. The game world itself is open, dynamic, and divided into four distinct regions, each with its own atmosphere.
While classic series features such as quirky characters, sarcastic humor, and excessive gunplay remain, the new installment shows significant technical and content improvements. First impressions make it clear that it’s not just the graphics that have been revamped, but also the gameplay, which has been thoroughly reworked.
New systems, new possibilities – and a release date has been set
The overhaul of the weapon and equipment system is particularly profound.In future, weapons can be combined from different parts from different manufacturers, allowing for an enormous variety of builds. Things get even more exciting with the combat system. Grenades and heavy weapons now share the same slot, which naturally encourages quick tactical decisions. And that’s a real plus, especially in Coop
Life energy can now also be managed more flexibly: with the new “Repkit,” players get a mobile healing station for heated battles. This allows for more offensive and less defensive combat – a clear break from previous healing mechanics in the series.
Fans of cooperative play have a lot to look forward to. Borderlands 4 has been consistently designed with co-op in mind. A revamped matchmaking system allows groups of players to stay together even when changing game modes. Combined with individual loot drops and an adaptable level system, nothing stands in the way of a fair, coordinated experience.
Borderlands 4 will be released on September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.Those who are betting on the Switch 2 will have to wait a little longer – a release date for Nintendo’s console has not yet been announced.
