Summary
- Borderlands 4 could potentially launch sometime in Summer 2025, but its release window may extend to early 2026.
- Borderlands 4 takes players to the planet Kairos under the rule of the oppressive Timekeeper.
- New features in Borderlands 4 include a seamless open world, new Vault Hunters, a grappling hook, and vehicle summoning.
With every reveal, the release of Gearbox and Take-Two Interactive’s Borderlands 4 seems to be growing nearer, and anticipation is building for what it might add to the franchise that has captivated so many for so long. As the gaming industry marches on into 2025, Borderlands 4 shows its face, with promises of a brand-new world to explore, fresh gameplay mechanics, and an original story with its own twists and turns, all set in the beloved universe of Borderlands.
At the time of writing, there is no clear indication of whether Borderlands 4 will be released in 2025, but there is also no clear indication that it won’t be. As such, there may be plenty of things for Borderlands 4 fans to look forward to next year, as the next mainline game in the Borderlands series finally prepares itself for launch.
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Borderlands 4’s Confirmed Features and Potential Release Window
Borderlands 4’s Potential Release Window Has Been Narrowed Down
Currently, Borderlands 4 doesn’t have a formal release date, but there is hope for it to be released sometime in 2025. Speaking in an interview with Variety, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Borderlands 4 will launch no sooner than April 2025 but also won’t clash with Grand Theft Auto 6. Given the fact that Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently scheduled for a late 2025 release, this could put Borderlands 4‘s release window in summer 2025, perhaps sometime between May and September. However, there is still plenty of reason to assume that Borderlands 4‘s release date could go as far as early 2026 to pick up the spring gaming traffic and avoid GTA 6 at the same time.
It might still be safe to assume that Borderlands 4 will launch in 2025, since the game’s marketing has recently been picking up even more, and fans can likely expect another trailer or two for the game before its launch, at the very least.
Borderlands 4 Takes Players to the Planet of Kairos Under the Rule of the Timekeeper
As far as its story goes, Borderlands 4 sees players taking a trip to the planet Kairos, a new location in the Borderlands universe that is revealed after Pandora’s moon, Elpis, crashes into Kairos’ cloaking shield, revealing its location to the galaxy. This happened after Lilith, in an attempt to save Pandora, teleported Elpis away as it was on a crash course toward its planet. This could, and likely does, mean that Lilith will make an appearance at some point in the game’s story, especially considering a hint of her can be seen flying through space in the original teaser trailer for Borderlands 4.
Kairos itself is under the oppressive dictatorship of Borderlands 4‘s new antagonist, the Timekeeper, whose rule is challenged once the protective barrier around the planet is shattered. Ultimately, the event triggers a rebellion against the Timekeeper, disrupting his order and forcing him to respond. As usual, players assume the role of one of Borderlands 4‘s Vault Hunters, assisting in the resistance against the Timekeeper with the aim of freeing Kairos once and for all. Not much else is currently known about the Timekeeper, apart from the fact that Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford calls him something far more “dangerous and sinister” than Borderlands 2‘s Handsome Jack.
Borderlands 4 Is Introducing Some New Features to the Series
From a gameplay perspective, Borderlands 4 still seems to be a Borderlands game through and through, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come with some new bells and whistles aiming to make it a fresh experience. Most prominently is Borderlands 4‘s new Vault Hunters — a feature that changes traditionally with each Borderlands installment. Borderlands 4 also features a seamless open world on the planet of Kairos, which means there will be absolutely zero loading screens, regardless of whether players are going indoors or outside.
As usual, players assume the role of one of Borderlands 4‘s Vault Hunters, assisting in the resistance against the Timekeeper with the aim of freeing Kairos once and for all.
To complement this seamless open world is a vehicle that can be summoned from almost anywhere, seeming to indicate the removal of the longstanding Catch-a-Ride system that has been in the franchise for many years now. This also implies that the explorable part of Borderlands 4‘s Kairos will be significantly larger than previous locations in the series, as only a much larger space would presumably require a vehicle that can be summoned from almost anywhere. Finally, Borderlands 4 also features new traversal mechanics, including a grappling hook that players can use to enhance their exploration on Kairos.
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Borderlands 4 May Receive Post-Launch Content in 2025
Currently, no post-launch content has been officially confirmed for Borderlands 4, let alone any coming in 2025, as that will ultimately depend on whether the game launches in 2025. However, should Borderlands 4 launch early enough in 2025, players could receive post-launch content for the game before the year is over. This is all speculative, of course, and wholly based on the fact that Gearbox has never shied away from delivering substantial post-launch DLC for Borderlands games in the past.
Borderlands DLC has traditionally included a variety of additions, like new regions, new activities, new stories, new weapons, and new playable characters.
Whether it sees the light of day in 2025 or slips into 2026, Borderlands 4 is set to carry the franchise’s legacy forward while experimenting with some fresh mechanics. Upon first glance, Borderlands 4 appears to be just as Borderlands as any other game in the series, which could be considered a double-edged sword. Nevertheless, with its new Vault Hunters, seamless open-world design, new traversal mechanics, and original story, Borderlands 4 aims to honor its roots while pushing the boundaries of what fans expect from a Borderlands game.
