Borderlands 4 Launch Moved Up 11 Days: Impact on GTA 6 Release?

Gearbox’s much-anticipated first-person shooter, *Borderlands 4*, is set to launch 11 days earlier than originally planned, a surprising move confirmed by development chief Randy Pitchford in a video that seems to have gone live prematurely. The game, initially slated for a September 23 release, will now hit the shelves on September 12, available across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

In the revealing video, Pitchford shared his excitement: “Everything is going great, actually. In fact, everything is going kind of the best-case scenario. The game is awesome, the team is cooking, and so the launch date for Borderlands 4 is changing. We’re moving it forward. The launch date is now September 12.” He couldn’t contain his enthusiasm, exclaiming, “What?! This never happens you guys! This never happens! We’re moving the launch date forward! You’re gonna get Borderlands 4 earlier!” Additionally, Pitchford hinted at an upcoming PlayStation State of Play event dedicated to Borderlands 4, which is set to be released soon.

This unexpected early release sparks curiosity about its timing, particularly in relation to the looming release of *Grand Theft Auto 6* (GTA 6). Scheduled for a fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, GTA 6's broad release window could potentially overshadow other games, including Borderlands 4. It’s important to note that Borderlands 4 is published by 2K Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two, which also owns Rockstar, the developer behind GTA 6. At the executive level, including CEO Strauss Zelnick, there is likely a strategic oversight to ensure all games under the Take-Two umbrella have the best chance of success. Could the decision to advance Borderlands 4’s release be a strategic move to avoid direct competition with GTA 6?

With Borderlands 4’s new release date, the likelihood of GTA 6 launching in September or August diminishes. October, November, or December 2025 remain plausible, yet this raises concerns about potential market saturation. Take-Two also has *Mafia: The Old Country* scheduled for a summer 2025 launch, adding another layer of complexity to release planning. The risk of cannibalizing sales among these major titles is a significant consideration.

In a February interview, IGN posed the question of release timing to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, who emphasized a strategy to avoid cannibalization: “No, I think we will plan the releases so as not to have that be a problem,” Zelnick stated. He highlighted the importance of allowing consumers ample time to enjoy each hit game before moving on to the next, expressing confidence in Take-Two's ability to manage its release schedule effectively.

Amidst this speculation, there’s always the possibility that GTA 6 could face delays, potentially shifting into early winter or even the first quarter of 2026. Zelnick, cautious about jinxing any plans, noted, "Look, there's always a risk of slippage and I think as soon as you say words like absolutely, you jinx things. So we feel really good about it."