Borderlands 4 - Everything we know
The Borderlands series has become one of the most iconic looter-shooter franchises, blending chaotic gunplay, humor, and RPG-style progression. With Gearbox confirming development on the next big entry, excitement around Borderlands 4 is at an all-time high. Fans are eager to learn more about the Borderlands 4 release date, what new Borderlands 4 characters might appear, and how the next generation of Borderlands 4 vault hunters and Borderlands 4 classes will reshape gameplay. While full details are still emerging, there are already plenty of leaks, interviews, and hints pointing toward the future of Pandora and beyond. This article gathers everything revealed so far, giving you a clear overview of what to expect in the next explosive chapter of Borderlands.
Borderlands 4 Release Date
The highly anticipated Borderlands 4 release date has been officially confirmed for September 12, 2025. The game will launch simultaneously on PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5, while Nintendo Switch 2 players will gain access a few weeks later on October 3, 2025. Originally, Gearbox and 2K Games planned the release for September 23, but the date was moved forward by 11 days, giving fans the chance to dive into the chaos even earlier.
This decision was revealed during the PlayStation State of Play showcase, with developers noting that the adjustment was part of ensuring the game’s polished state and aligning with the studio’s tradition of fall releases. With the launch now closer, players won’t have to wait long to step into the next chapter of looting, shooting, and chaotic adventures in the Borderlands universe.
Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters
One of the most exciting aspects of Borderlands 4 is the introduction of four completely new Vault Hunters, each bringing their own playstyle, backstory, and abilities to the chaotic universe. Gearbox has confirmed that these new characters will expand on the series’ tradition of unique classes while offering fresh ways to approach combat, teamwork, and progression.
The four confirmed Vault Hunters are:
- Vex – A new Siren who channels supernatural phase energy. With her glowing tattoos and mystical powers, she can conjure weapons and unleash devastating magical attacks. Sirens have always played a crucial role in Borderlands, and Vex continues this legacy with an entirely new spin.
- Rafa – An Exo Soldier who relies on heavy firepower and military-grade exo-suits. Rafa represents the “battle-hardened veteran” archetype, delivering raw strength and tactical precision, making him perfect for players who love tank-style gameplay.
- Harlowe – Known as the Gravitar, Harlowe is a brilliant former Maliwan scientist who now uses experimental gadgets and radiation-based technology. She specializes in controlling the battlefield with utility gear, crowd-control effects, and energy manipulation.
- Amon – The Forgeknight, a brutal warrior clad in heavy armor who commands a Forge arsenal. Amon can wield massive melee weapons, deploy weaponized drones, and tank enormous amounts of damage, making him a frontline powerhouse.
Each of these Vault Hunters features three action skills, a unique trait, and dedicated skill trees. This flexibility allows players to tailor their builds to suit solo runs or synergize with teammates in co-op play. In addition, Borderlands 4 characters are designed to reflect strong personalities and lore ties, ensuring they fit naturally into the evolving story of Pandora and beyond.
With Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters, Gearbox is clearly aiming to deliver both nostalgia and innovation - bringing back the humor and chaos fans love, while giving players entirely new heroes to master.
Borderlands 4 Character Design Intent
Gearbox has revealed that the Borderlands 4 characters are being designed with a stronger focus on variety and experimentation. Instead of simply repeating older archetypes in a linear fashion, the developers are introducing twists that make each Vault Hunter stand out. This ensures players will have access to fresh mechanics that expand beyond traditional Soldier or Siren roles, opening up new ways to play and experiment with builds.
New Character Abilities
- Grappling – use an energy lash to swing across areas, grab enemies, or interact with the environment in creative ways.
- Gliding – characters can glide through the air, adding more vertical mobility.
- Bigger Skill Trees – the most extensive skill trees in the series, giving deeper customization options.
- Digi-Struct Vehicles – summon vehicles anywhere in the world for fast traversal or combat setups.
- Double Jump & Dash – more fluid mobility with mid-air jumps and quick evasive movements.
- Swimming – for the first time in the franchise, players can dive underwater to explore hidden areas.
Skill Trees
Borderlands 4 introduces the deepest and most diverse Vault Hunter skill trees ever seen in the franchise. Players will be able to unlock a huge number of perks across expansive builds, allowing for both solo power fantasy and co-op synergy. With almost four times the skill points compared to previous games, this system gives players unprecedented freedom to fine-tune their characters.
| Game | Trees | Skills | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borderlands | 3 | 21 | 105 |
| Borderlands 2 | 3 | ~33 | ~130 |
| Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel | 3 | ~35 | ~128 |
| Borderlands 3 | 4 | ~51 | ~170 |
| Borderlands 4 | 3 | ~87 | ~387 |
Vault Hunter Traits
Each of the Borderlands 4 Vault Hunters comes with a unique trait that modifies how their skills work, adding an extra layer of strategy. These traits tie directly into action skills and make each Hunter distinct in combat:
- Rafa – Overdrive: activating an Action Skill grants bonus movement speed and increased damage from all sources.
- Vex – Phase Covenant: all Action Skills and melee attacks adapt to the elemental type of her current weapon, boosting synergy.
- Amon: a Forge Knight who focuses on drone-based combat and heavy melee, with his trait rumored to boost durability and versatility.
- Harlowe: a scientist-turned-Gravitar who leverages gadgets and tech-based abilities, her trait is expected to enhance gadget synergy in creative ways.
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Borderlands 4 Gameplay Features
Borderlands 4 is shaping up to be the most ambitious entry in the series, packed with fresh mechanics, new systems, and plenty of changes that will alter the way players approach combat and exploration. From revamped weapon designs to expanded mobility options, Gearbox is pushing the limits of what fans can expect from the chaotic looter-shooter formula.
Shift Codes and Rewards
Yes, Shift Codes are officially returning in Borderlands 4. These codes have been a staple of the franchise for years, offering exclusive loot such as Golden Keys and rare cosmetics. Gearbox has already confirmed that players with a Shift account will receive special rewards at launch, making it worthwhile to sign up early and stay connected to community drops.
New Gun Manufacturers
The arsenal in Borderlands 4 is more diverse than ever. Alongside classic gun makers like Jacobs, Vladof, Maliwan, and Torgue, three brand-new manufacturers are joining the lineup:
- Order – Focused on powerful, charged blasts with devastating impact.
- Ripper – Specializing in rapid-fire, fully automatic mayhem.
- Daedalus – Known for adaptability, with weapons that can swap between multiple ammo types.
This new system also introduces hybrid weapon parts, allowing guns to spawn with enhancements tied to multiple manufacturers for unique bonuses and customization.
Grenades and Heavy Weapons on Cooldowns
One of the biggest quality-of-life changes is that grenades and heavy weapons no longer consume ammo. Instead, they now operate on cooldowns. This encourages players to use rocket launchers, heavy cannons, and explosives in standard combat, rather than saving them exclusively for boss fights. The result is a faster, more explosive battlefield experience.
Loot Drop Adjustments
Gearbox has rebalanced loot rarity to make legendary drops feel special again. While the drop rate of Legendaries has been reduced, all guns are designed to feel powerful and satisfying to use - regardless of rarity. This ensures that even a Common weapon can feel impactful in the right hands, creating more meaningful loot progression.
Expanded Movement Options
Mobility is taking a huge leap forward in Borderlands 4. New movement mechanics make combat more vertical and versatile than ever before:
- Gliding – Allows players to hover across large gaps and reposition quickly.
- Double Jump – Provides aerial flexibility for dodging or chaining attacks.
- Climbing – Lets Vault Hunters scale walls and obstacles for better tactical advantage.
- Point Grapple – A grappling hook that pulls you directly to a target location or enemy.
- Combat Maneuvers – Players can dash, slide, zipline, and even perform air-to-ground strikes for devastating melee attacks.
Compass Instead of Minimap
One controversial design decision was the removal of the traditional minimap. Instead, Borderlands 4 uses a compass bar that points players toward objectives, alongside a combat radar that highlights enemies and points of interest. The intent is to keep players focused on the action rather than constantly checking a corner of the screen. While some fans were skeptical, Gearbox has refined the system based on community feedback, ensuring it feels intuitive and functional when the game launches.
With these gameplay innovations, Borderlands 4 promises to stay true to the chaotic roots of the series while introducing mechanics that feel fresh and modern. Players can expect faster-paced combat, more tactical decision-making, and a loot system that rewards creativity and experimentation.
The Borderlands 4 Campaign Completion option ensures you experience the full story, unlock all main quests, and prepare your Vault Hunter for the toughest challenges.
Conclusion
Borderlands 4 is shaping up to be a bold step forward for the franchise, combining everything fans already love with innovative mechanics that modernize the looter-shooter experience. With a confirmed Borderlands 4 release date, four brand-new Vault Hunters, expanded skill trees, and a wide variety of fresh gameplay systems, Gearbox is aiming to deliver the most dynamic entry in the series yet. Whether it’s experimenting with new Borderlands 4 classes, testing enhanced mobility options, or exploring the updated loot and weapon systems, players will find countless reasons to return to Pandora and beyond.
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FAQ
There will be four new Vault Hunters at launch: Vex, Rafa, Harlowe, and Amon, each with unique skills and traits.
Yes, each Vault Hunter represents a new Borderlands 4 class with distinct playstyles, expanded skill trees, and customizable builds.
Yes, the game introduces advanced movement mechanics, grenades and heavy weapons on cooldowns, a compass system instead of a minimap, and refined loot drop rates.
Change Log
- 13.09.2025 - Borderlands 4 - Everything we know published.