Borderlands 4 Release Confirmed – Everything We Know

A big question in the Borderlands community was whether or not Gearbox Software is working on the next installment of the Borderlands franchise, Borderlands 4. Because Borderlands 3 isn’t getting any post-launch content anymore and they also finished working on Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and New Tales From the Borderlands. The next logical question is whether Borderlands 4 is in development and in this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about the next installment of the franchise.

Borderlands 4 Confirmed

Gearbox Software and 2K Games have officially announced the next installment in the Borderlands franchise, Borderlands 4, by releasing a teaser trailer during Gamescom 2024.

Randy Pitchford teases Borderlands 4

President of Gearbox Enterprises, Randy Pitchford, actually confirmed that Borderlands 4 is in development at the studio. He stated on May 6, 2021, that they are working on some amazing stuff and asked for skilled people to help them create the next Borderlands game.

if anyone out there has Skills-To-Pay-Bills and wants to get in on some Borderlands action, we’re working on the big one 🙂

Randy Pitchford – Founder Gearbox Entertainment

Here is my breakdown of Randy’s Tweet because there is some clever wording in it that makes it factually correct. Others might see this as Randy being untruthful but here is why it’s creditable.

Previously, Randy Pitchford referred to Borderlands 3 as the BIG ONE but because that game is already released. The Next Big One is Borderlands 4 as he is on the topic of Borderlands throughout his Tweets.

The Tweet Randy is quoting is about a rumor regarding Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. Info was spreading around that Gearbox Software was working on a Borderlands spin-off game.

Factually, Randy’s tweet is correct as he phrases the so-called rumor in a particular way. Yes, it’s true that Gearbox is not assisting or co-developing another Borderlands game. Because they are making the game in-house.

Also, Gearbox Software sees Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands as a new IP and not a spin-off. While the game borrows a lot of elements from Borderlands 3, it also does its own thing and future titles might even push it further from the Borderlands franchise.

But because Gearbox Software sees Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands as a new IP, this also means that getting into some Borderlands action would not refer to Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.

All in all, this means that Randy Pitchford essentially confirms the next Borderlands game. Yes, Borderlands 4 is in development.

Randy Pitchford Continues

Randy Pitchford talked about Borderlands 4 again while promoting the Borderlands Movie in 2024. He did the same during an IGN interview (Mar 28, 2024), saying they are working on the best thing they ever made. In the GameRader interview, Randy had the following to say.

I haven’t been perfect at hiding the fact that we’re working on many things, and that we’re working on big things, I’m confident that our fans are going to be very, very happy with the next video game project when we are ready to announce it. And I will tell you that we’re not going to be making people wait for a long time before we announce it.

Randy Pitchford (GameRadar Interview: 26 July 2024)

When asked if Gearbox is working on the next mainline Borderlands, Pitchford said, “Of course we are.”

Epic Games Interview (Aug 8, 2024)

Rumors go that GBX has been working on Borderlands 4 since 2019. It isn’t uncommon for a studio to start a small new team that is building the foundation for the next project as the main team pushes the current project over the finish line.

Update Aug 20, 2024: Gearbox Software and 2K Games officially announced Borderlands 4 at Gamescom 2024.

Borderlands 4 Release Date

Gearbox Software and 2K Games have officially announced the next installment in the Borderlands franchise. Borderlands 4 will release on September 23, 2025, during Take-Two’s Fiscal Year 2026.

• Update Feb 13, 2025: Gearbox Software announced the Borderlands 4 Release Date with a Trailer during Sony’s State of Play.
• Update Feb 6, 2025: CEO Strauss Zelnick stated during Take-Two’s Fiscal Q3 2025 Report Borderlands 4 will release at “Year End”, the order he mentioned it in suggests it will release after GTA6, however, if the date is still undefined; you would say it at the end but could still not be the last game released.
• Update Nov 6, 2024: Take Two’s Fiscal Q2 2025 Report states Borderlands 4 is scheduled for Fiscal 2026. Noteworthy is that GTA VI is scheduled for “Fall of calendar 2025” and Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told Variety that they won’t stack BL4 and GTA6 up against each other.

The Borderlands 4 teaser showed several flashing images at the end of the trailer. One of these segments showed “Mon 15”. The first Monday 15th is in September 2025. This date would line up with other main Borderlands releases. However, if you look closely and flip that text, it is actually the WISHLIST NOW text mirrored.

Since the Embracer merger, Gearbox Entertainment has grown a lot. Going from 400 to over 1500 people working at the company. Early 2023, it was stated that the studio is set on releasing 8 AAA games by 2026, however, Embracer underwent heavy restructuring and several smaller projects were canceled at Gearbox Software. This way the studio could focus on the projects that matter.

Halfway through 2023 rumors started that Embracer was willing to sell Gearbox Software and in 2024 a deal was made with Take-Two Interactive. Quickly after the acquisition, a statement was made that the company would double down on the Borderlands franchise.

Borderlands 4 Story

Gearbox Software left us with one giant question at the end of Borderlands 3. After the final battle with Tyreen the Destroyer, we see Lilith take flight and lock Elpis in its place preventing the moon from crashing into Pandora. This brave move leaves a giant Firehawk symbol engraved into Elpis but Lilith is nowhere to be found.

The ending has fans wondering what will happen in Borderlands 4. Gearbox Software has to pay off the mystery surrounding Lilith, with fan theories suggesting that it might be better if we don’t find her.

In the Borderlands 4 Teaser Trailer we see the cataclysmic arrival of Pandora’s moon (Elpis) on the new planet is called Kairos, which has been hidden for ages. Kairos is controlled by the ruthless dictator known as the Timekeeper.

Elpis’ arrival has disrupted his perfect order and gave rise to a horde known as the Rippers. This new faction is led by their terrifying Queen, Callis, and they will face down The Timekeeper and his army of synthetic soldiers, known as The Order.

By the time the Vault Hunters crash land on Kairos, the planet is a powder keg waiting to explode. The Timekeeper has a plan that he has been brewing for ages, and the Vault Hunters are annoying distractions that he can’t stand.

Fans are also waiting on the premise that Borderlands The Pre-Sequel ended on and is Ava going to lead us in this foretold war.

Personally, I think Gearbox Software needs to start Borderlands 4 with this important detail.

Borderlands 4 Key Takeaways

• STORY:
  • Your Vault Hunter will be the hero in the story and not a bystander like in Borderlands 3.
  • Focus on telling a good story as they did with the Borderlands 3 DLCs and give characters a meaningful role instead of introducing fan-favorite characters for 5 minutes.
  • Focus on new characters over established characters.
  • The Timekeeper is the main antagonist and he operates on a different level than previous villains.
  • New Vault is different from previous Vaults (Yellow instead of Purple)
  • The giant 2-legged Robot Lady from the Trailer is Queen Callis, leader of the Ripper Clan.
  • The Time Keeper’s Army is known as the The Order
  • Years have passed between the event of BL3 to BL4
• GAMEPLAY:
  • 4 New Playable Vault Hunters that offer new experiences
  • Biggest seamless world in the franchise yet (1 Planet + 1 Moon).
  • Digi-struct Vehicles on the spot at almost any location.
  • New Movement mechanics; Grapple, Glide, Dodge, and Lunge.
  • Improved Boss Battles
• MORE:
  • Cross-Play on all platforms
  • Now renamed BL4 Screenshots hinted at “Ripper Raid” End Game Content
  • Zane and Claptrap Return
  • Legendary Loot Beams have a rainbow sparkle
  • Borderlands 4 promises a billion weapons

Borderlands 4 Engine

• May 27, 2021: Randy Pitchford mentioned that the new Unreal Engine 5 is built for a new kind of next-generation Borderlands game.
• Nov 19, 2023: Former technical director at Lost Boys Interactive listed his Unreal Engine 4 work for BL4 on their LinkedIn.
• Dec 20, 2024: Senior Project Producer of Borderlands 4 mentions they crafted Borderlands 4 by utilizing Unreal Engine 5.

Seeing that gigantic boss in the unreal engine demo looks promising for the next Borderlands game.

Borderlands 4 Platforms

Borderlands 4 will be released on all major platforms, meaning PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam + Epic).

Borderlands 4 will not be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. By dropping the support to those platforms the next game in the series can evolve as it isn’t restrained to those hardware specs anymore like Borderlands 3.

FAQ