Summary
- Borderlands 4 announced for release in September 2025 with new features.
- Changes some fans want include melee weapons, customization, and new environments.
- Fans are hoping for a more focused plot in Borderlands 4 for improved storytelling.
Borderlands 4 has officially been announced by Gearbox Software, with an exciting new teaser trailer and a projected release in the first half of September 2025. The Borderlands series has been widely known for its fun and fast-paced looter-shooter gameplay, which it established with its first entry, Borderlands, back in 2009. But it's no secret that the franchise has had its share of ups and downs over the years, not to mention its controversial film adaptation from 2024.
Every Borderlands Game, Ranked
The Borderlands franchise has tons of incredible games for players to explore, but some entries are more entertaining than others.
Supposedly, the game has been in development even prior to the release of Borderlands 3. So, they really seem to be hyping up their new title, leaving fans to only wonder what sort of features it will have — and if the new game will deliver.
6 Familiar Gameplay With New Twists
Spicing Up The Tried & True Formula
Ever since the first entry in 2009, the gameplay formula of Borderlands has mostly been the same: an addictive and fast-paced looter-shooter with a first-person perspective. Even though its core gameplay has been done over and over with little change over the years, it still proves to be as fun as ever, and really doesn’t need to change.
But change can be a good thing, and that's where Borderlands 4 can really make an impact with its upcoming release. Especially something like altering the game's pacing, allowing for a more stealth-oriented approach to certain situations, instead of the usual “guns blazing” theme that the games have always forced players into. That's not to say the “fast and loud” approach shouldn’t be an option, but giving each player more freedom to plan out encounters would be a small change that could do a lot to spice up the franchises' usual gameplay formula.
5 Returning Characters
Callbacks To The Old Cast
Borderlands has contained some great, unique personalities over the years and has also featured many of its previous cast as returning characters with supporting character roles.
Borderlands 3 included quite a few past fan-favorite characters like Brick and Lilith, originally seen in the first game, as well as others like Ellie and Sir Hammerlock, who were introduced in Borderlands 2, and that's just to name a few of them. Seeing the trend continue in Borderlands 4 would be a treat for fans, and a nice callback to the series' previous installments. On the off-chance that it doesn't happen, at least players can expect to see Claptrap make his usual return.
4 More Customization
Million's Of Randomized Firearms, But Not Much For Customization.
A key component featured in nearly all the Borderlands games so far has been the massive collection of weapons each game has offered. While the guns might look similar, the system works by randomizing different damage values, types, and effects. It turned what would be a small arsenal into a massive collection containing millions of different firearm options.
Borderlands 4 Missing Fan Favorite Weapon Manufacturers
More Borderlands 4 information comes to light, including the eight primary weapon manufacturers that will be featured in the game.
While undoubtedly a defining feature for the series, many fans have expressed the desire for more choice in customization past just cosmetics and small tweaks. Allowing players to swap out even more attachment options for different play styles, or even letting them build their own custom firearm from scratch to suit their needs, would bring more depth to Borderlands' already vast selection of weaponry.
3 Melee-Focused Weaponry
Taking After Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
Those who are more fond of the "up-close and personal" sort of playstyle have been asking for the next Borderlands game to include a larger focus on its melee weapons. Not just in its selection of weapons on offer, but also in its gameplay mechanics and skill systems overall.
Many fans have cited Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands melee system as a good example. It included melee weapons in their own equipment slot separate from the usual firearms, allowing the melee-focused playstyle to be much more viable. While the attacks themselves function in mostly the same way, it allowed the weapon to actually be equipped like any other firearm. It gave the feeling that melees were actually their own category instead of just an emergency secondary attack.
Luckily, it looks like a refresh to the melee system could be possible when seeing playable characters like Amon the Forgeknight, who has been shown wielding dual axes.
2 A New Atmosphere
The Deserts Are Getting A Little Dry
Fans have already seen that Borderlands 4 will be taking place on the all-new planet of Kairos as shown in the game’s recent State of Play reveal, so it's no secret players will be seeing a new map in the next installment.
The point, moreover, is that Borderlands has been known for its arid, rocky environments, with the occasional change of scenery here-and-there. Surely there’s nothing wrong with the series' past locales, but the same-old dry desert design can get, well, a little dry. Fans have expressed the need for more frequency in environmental differences across the map — for example, the introduction of jungle, or swamp-like atmospheres. These would even open the door to all-new possibilities for the different creatures that can be encountered as well.
1 A More Focused Plot & Characters
A Big Sticking Point In Recent Entries
The Borderlands series may not be known for having the deepest of plots, but they have undoubtedly contained some unique core concepts and have done a great job with the lore and worldbuilding in the Borderlands universe.
But a very big sticking point for fans of the series' past few releases has been the writing, both in terms of storyline and characters. The general reception isn't terrible, but it has been quite mixed among the community, with most stating the plots and personalities of the more recent titles haven't exactly lived up to past entries. While Borderlands has always been about the gameplay, a good story can really make the difference, so fans are hopeful Borderlands 4 will deliver something fresh in the writing department.
Borderlands 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
