April State of Play Unveils Borderlands 4 Gameplay

Borderlands 4 Gameplay Showcase Highlights April 2025 State of Play

The Borderlands 4 State of Play presentation delivered an extensive 20-minute gameplay showcase highlighting the game's new mechanics and features. Here's everything revealed about the upcoming title, including speculation about its earlier release date.

Borderlands 4 State of Play Reveals Exciting New Content

Comprehensive Gameplay Demonstration

The April State of Play focused entirely on Borderlands 4, offering fans their most detailed look yet at the anticipated sequel. The extended gameplay footage introduced two of four playable Vault Hunters:

Vex the Siren - harnesses phase energy to summon spectral allies and enhance abilities
Rafa the Exo-Soldier - utilizes prototype Tediore exo-suit technology to materialize weapons instantly

Borderlands 4 New Characters Revealed

The presentation unveiled Kairos, a dangerous new planet ruled by the tyrannical Timekeeper. Players must rally warring factions against this oppressive regime, aided by returning favorites Claptrap, Mad Moxxi, and Zane Flynt.

Key gameplay innovations include:

Modular weapon customization through Licensed Parts
Expanded Gear Slots for specialized builds
Digirunner vehicles for planetary exploration

Developer Addresses Earlier Release Date

Gearbox recently announced Borderlands 4's release moving forward two weeks to September 12, 2025. While developers attribute this to smoother-than-expected development, some fans suspect it relates to Take-Two's broader release strategy, particularly regarding Grand Theft Auto VI.

Borderlands 4 Release Timing Explained

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick previously confirmed neither title would interfere with the other's launch window. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford emphatically denied any connection between Borderlands 4's schedule and other releases:

"Our decision has absolutely nothing to do with another product's timeline - we're simply ready sooner than anticipated."

Borderlands 4 launches September 12, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. For ongoing coverage of the upcoming release, stay tuned for updates.