Borderlands 4 Showcased in State of Play April 2025

The April 2025 State of Play dedicated a full 20-minute segment showcasing Borderlands 4's gameplay, revealing exciting new features and mechanics. Discover fresh insights from the presentation and explore fan theories about the surprise release date adjustment.

Borderlands 4 Unveils Key Features During State of Play

Extended Gameplay Showcase

Sony's April 30 State of Play presentation delivered major Borderlands 4 revelations through an immersive 20-minute gameplay demonstration. Fans got their first detailed look at the next chapter of this popular loot shooter series.

The footage introduced two of the four playable Vault Hunters: Vex the Siren, harnessing mystical phase energy to enhance her abilities and summon spectral allies, alongside Rafa the Exo-Soldier, a Tediore military veteran equipped with prototype armor that can materialize weapons on demand.

Players will explore Kairos, a volatile new world where dangerous wildlife, rebel factions, and oppressed residents suffer under the Timekeeper's iron rule. The campaign tasks players with sparking revolution while recruiting allies, aided by returning favorites Claptrap, Mad Moxxi, and Zane Flynt.

The demonstration also highlighted gameplay innovations including customizable weapon behavior through the licensed Parts system, expanded Gear slots for specialized loadouts, and the speedy new Digirunner vehicles. These additions promise deeper customization and fresh combat dynamics.

Developer Addresses Release Date Speculation

Prior to the presentation, Gearbox surprised fans by moving Borderlands 4's launch two weeks earlier, citing accelerated development progress. This sparked community discussions about potential strategic considerations, particularly regarding Take-Two's other major franchise.

Analysts noted that parent company Take-Two Interactive owns both Gearbox and Rockstar Games, fueling theories about release scheduling coordination. This speculation intensified following Take-Two's November 2024 financial briefing.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick previously confirmed Grand Theft Auto 6's Fall 2025 launch window wouldn't overlap with Borderlands 4's initial fiscal year 2026 timing (April 2025-March 2026). During a Variety interview, he stressed, "We prioritize spacing out major releases strategically."

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford directly addressed these theories on social media, asserting the schedule change reflects development progress rather than competitive positioning. "This decision isn't influenced by any other title's release schedule—it's purely about delivering Borderlands 4 when it's ready," Pitchford clarified.

Borderlands 4 launches sooner than expected on September 12, 2025 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC platforms. For continuous updates on this highly anticipated sequel, explore our latest coverage below.