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In an explosive showcase during PlayStation’s State of Play, Gearbox Entertainment provided the most in-depth look yet at Borderlands 4, revealing two new Vault Hunters, the mysterious planet Kairos, and significant gameplay enhancements ahead of its September 12, 2025 release date.
Introduced to viewers was Vex the Siren and Rafa the Exo-Soldier, two of the four playable characters. Vex can empower herself with supernatural phase energy and summon spectral minions, including a feline familiar named Trouble. Rafa, a former Tediore trooper, wears an experimental exo-suit capable of digistructing weapons on demand.
The gameplay footage showcased the franchise’s most advanced skill tree system to date, allowing players to choose from three signature abilities as Action Skills for each Vault Hunter.
The showcase introduced Kairos, a planet previously hidden and controlled by the tyrannical Timekeeper, who oppressed its inhabitants using cybernetic implants called Bolts and an army of synthetic soldiers known as The Order. Six years before the events of Borderlands 4, a rogue moon teleported into orbit, breaking the planet’s protective veil and sparking chaos and rebellion.
Players will traverse Kairos’ seamlessly connected regions using a personalized Digirunner vehicle with jet-boost capabilities. The game features returning fan-favorite characters such as Claptrap, Moxxi, and Zane, alongside new allies and adversaries central to the revolution against the Timekeeper.
The extended gameplay segment showed Vex and Rafa infiltrating a secret blacksite in the frigid, mountainous Terminus Range region, aided by Amara, a returning Siren from previous games. This sequence highlighted combat against one of the Timekeeper’s generals, Vile Lictor, who appears as a formidable boss at the end of the demonstration.
Borderlands 4 features weapons from eight manufacturers, including three new ones: Order (precision high-powered bursts), Ripper (charge-up fully automatic), and Daedalus (multi-ammo type weapons). Returning manufacturers include Tediore, Maliwan, Jakobs, Vladof, and Torgue, each with distinct firing mechanics.
The new Licensed Parts system allows weapons to incorporate behaviors from multiple manufacturers into a single gun. The game also introduces new gear slots: Ordnance (grenades and heavy weapons that recharge on cooldown), Enhancements (manufacturer-specific augments), and Repkits (healing and temporary buff utilities).
Cooperative play has been streamlined with improved drop-in/drop-out functionality for up to four players online, with full crossplay available at launch. Split-screen co-op supports two players, and the game features instanced loot, dynamic level scaling, and individual difficulty settings. Borderlands 4 will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on September 12, 2025, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version following later that year.
