The Next Era of Borderlands Begins

The Vault is reopening —and Borderlands 4 is ready to usher in a new generation of chaos. Gearbox has officially confirmed the next installment of the iconic looter-shooter franchise, and from what we've seen so far, this isn’t just another numbered sequel—it's a leap forward.

With a confirmed release date of September 12, 2025 , Borderlands 4 lands on PC , PlayStation 5 , and Xbox Series X|S , bringing with it a brand-new world, fresh characters, overhauled combat mechanics, and one of the most intriguing villains the franchise has ever teased.

Borderlands 4 Release Date

Originally planned for September 23, Borderlands 4 was moved up to September 12, 2025 , in what appears to be a strategic move by Take-Two to avoid a direct clash with Bungie's upcoming Marathon reboot.

Expect Borderlands 4 to be one of 2025’s biggest AAA launches , especially with GTA 6 looming on the horizon.

Watch the Trailer: A Glimpse of Kairos and The Timekeeper

Gearbox has already dropped the official Borderlands 4 trailer , teasing a dark, polished new aesthetic and glimpses of the game’s central villain: The Timekeeper . Dressed in a crisp suit and radiating dystopian energy, this figure may even outshine Handsome Jack in menace and complexity.

The new setting, Kairos , introduces an entirely different flavor from Pandora—think high-tech, lo-fi design with sprawling seamless zones and new traversal tools like grappling hooks and hoverbikes .

Platform Availability

Confirmed for:

PC (Steam and Epic)

PlayStation 5

Xbox Series X|S

No support is planned for last-gen consoles, which means Borderlands 4 is built entirely for current-gen hardware , enabling larger worlds, higher frame rates, and more dynamic interactions.

Story, Setting & Characters

The official synopsis sets the tone:
"Ignite a resistance and blast your way through mechanical monstrosities, bloodthirsty bandits, and vicious beasts. Amass an arsenal of death-dealing firepower as you tear across Kairos."

Borderlands 4 brings a sharper narrative focus with a new central antagonist: The Timekeeper . This villain aims to impose a twisted vision of order on the galaxy, and the early trailer paints him as a methodical, charismatic, and ruthless figure.

Expect the signature Borderlands blend of humor, insanity, and satirical jabs at tech, media, and corporate power structures.

New Vault Hunters

Four new Vault Hunters will be playable at launch. While full character details are still under wraps, gameplay footage suggests the following archetypes:

A massive gunslinger tank

A Siren with new energy manipulation powers

A melee-focused swordsman

A flexible class that could blend stealth, speed, or tech

Each Vault Hunter will feature custom skill trees , build-defining perks , and synergistic co-op dynamics —perfect for theorycrafting builds or min-maxing damage in multiplayer.

Weapons, Vehicles & Gameplay Evolution

Gearbox promises billions of guns again, but this time with a clearer focus on distinct feel and balance across manufacturers like:

Dahl

Hyperion

Maliwan

Tediore

Torgue

Expect a return of class mods, action skills, and elemental synergies—with less toilet humor and more refined tone.

Vehicles are making a big return with:

Hoverbikes

Chariots

More traversal tech still to be revealed

Grappling Hooks & Seamless Exploration

While Gearbox won’t label Kairos an “open world,” the devs emphasize its expansive, seamless design with handcrafted encounters and zones that are “larger than anything we’ve ever done.”

Players can use grappling hooks for combat and exploration, making traversal more dynamic and vertical than ever before.

DLC, Expansions, and Ongoing Content

Gearbox has not confirmed post-launch plans, but based on past Borderlands titles, expect a Season Pass and major story DLCs . Previous expansions like Claptastic Voyage and Assault on Dragon Keep are still fan favorites, and the studio is known for delivering high-quality episodic content.

What to Expect Next: State of Play Preview on April 30

Mark your calendars— Gearbox is hosting a Borderlands 4 State of Play presentation on April 30 to showcase new gameplay, characters, and deeper dives into systems and story.

Recommended Gear for Launch

If you're planning to dive into Borderlands 4 on day one, upgrade your setup for the best experience:

Best Gaming Headsets for Borderlands

Next-Gen Controllers for FPS Games

Top-Rated Gaming Monitors (144Hz+)

Final Take

Borderlands 4 is shaping up to be a massive evolution for the franchise—bigger, sharper, and more tightly designed than ever. With a new villain, a seamless next-gen world, revamped mechanics, and Gearbox’s signature chaotic charm, this could easily be the most ambitious entry yet.

Stay tuned for more updates after the April 30 showcase.