Borderlands 4 Gameplay Deep Dive Was Main Focus of April 2025 State of Play

The State of Play event in April 2025 shone a spotlight on Borderlands 4, unveiling an extensive 20-minute gameplay deep dive. This deep dive provided fans with a first look at new features and mechanics, sparking discussions about the game's upcoming release and the reasons behind its shifted launch date.

Borderlands 4 State of Play New Details Revealed

20-Minute Gameplay Deep Dive Video

The State of Play event, streamed on April 30, 2025, by PlayStation, offered a detailed look at Borderlands 4. The gameplay video showcased two of the four new Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, who harnesses supernatural phase energy to empower herself and summon lethal minions, and Rafa the Exo-Soldier, a former Tediore trooper equipped with an experimental exo-suit that can digistruct an array of weapons.

The video also introduced players to the new planet of Kairos, a world filled with warring factions, dangerous creatures, and desperate inhabitants, all under the rule of the tyrannical Timekeeper. The objective is to spark a revolution against this oppressive ruler, engaging with unique factions and rallying them to your cause. Returning fan-favorite characters such as Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane will assist players in their mission.

Additional new features showcased include the innovative Parts system, allowing players to customize weapon behaviors and abilities, new Gear slots for more specialized builds, and the introduction of the Digirunner vehicle, among other exciting additions.

Gearbox Denies Launch Date Change is Influenced by Other Games

Prior to the State of Play, Gearbox Software announced that Borderlands 4 would be released two weeks earlier than originally planned. The studio attributed this change to the "incredible development work" on the game. However, fans speculated that the move might be influenced by the potential release schedule of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6), given that both Gearbox Software and Rockstar Games are subsidiaries of Take-Two Interactive.

During Take-Two Interactive’s earnings call in November 2024, the company confirmed plans to release GTA 6 in Fall 2025. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick emphasized that there would be no overlap with Borderlands 4's release window, set within their 2026 fiscal year (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."

Addressing the speculations, Gearbox Entertainment CEO Randy Pitchford took to Twitter (X) on April 30, 2025, to clarify that the decision to move up the release date was solely based on the studio’s confidence in the game. He stated, "Our decision is literally 0% about any other product’s actual or theoretical launch date."

Regardless of the reasons behind the change, fans can look forward to experiencing Borderlands 4 sooner than expected. The game is slated for release on September 12, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news on Borderlands 4 by checking out our related articles.