Borderlands 4: Everything We Know

Ever since Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford teased that the studio was working on “the big one” back in 2021, we’ve had every reason to believe that Borderlands 4 is no longer a mere pipe dream, but a full-blown, in-your-face concrete product. And while the acclaimed firm has yet to announce the next instalment in the looter shooter saga formally, we know for a fact that it’s happening — and that it’ll be gearing up to launch on consoles and PC at some point in the (hopefully) not-so-distant future.

So, what’s next for the franchise? Can we expect to see a few more mask-sporting Psychos? Are we likely to spend some more time in Pandora for yet another vault-hunting excursion? To answer these questions, we’ll have to take a step back—to the aftermath of the third chapter’s arrival in 2019, at which point news surrounding the series' future began to emerge from the bullets and haze of Pandora. Care to join us? Then let’s press on.

What Is Borderlands 4?

Borderlands 4 is the fourth mainline entry in the ever-popular first-person looter shooter series by Gearbox Software, and the fifth overall game in the Borderlands series; Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel came to fruition to bridge the gaps between Borderlands 2, and Telltale Games’ Tales from the Borderlands. The upcoming game, although not in the limelight just yet, will likely serve as a continuation of the third game, which launched back in 2019.

Let it be said that, while we can only speculate at this given moment, the fourth chapter is likely to follow a similar pattern as the previous games: as a standalone adventure. To this end, we can most definitely expect a slew of new Vault Hunters, and a vast new selection of areas to scoot around in and pluck clean of weapons, tools, and cosmetics. It’ll be Borderlands 4.0 — and we’re all for it.

Story

As far as potential storylines travel, we’ve still got a major question that still need answering: what happened to Lilith after she prevented the moon from crashing into Pandora? Safe to say that, when it comes to outlining a plausible scenario, picking up with this particular cliffhanger is sure to be in the cards. Either that, or Gearbox Software will abandon ship and chalk up an entirely new plot from scratch. Again, it’s too early to tell just yet, but with any luck, Gearbox will shed light on the premise over the coming months.

Gameplay

If you’ve managed to romp through the first four Borderlands entries, then there’s a good chance that you’ll know exactly what to expect from the fifth. A first-person looter shooter at heart, Borderlands 4 will once again deliver a high-octane, bullet-riddled shooter that’ll be swimming in questionable characters, and positively drowning in pandemonium. Like before, it’ll no doubt feature a single-player campaign, and a full-fat co-op mode, to boot.

Of course, we can’t really say for certain what the gameplay will entail, though if the first few games are anything to go by, then we can definitely expect to be given the signature Gearbox Software treatment, á la Borderlands and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.

Development

More: We are definitely working on some amazing stuff that, I hope, will surprise and delight you. Plug: 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 🙂 https://t.co/Pp5iTUBwAt https://t.co/ExjXEbU30R

— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) May 6, 2021

News of Borderlands 4 first started floating around back in 2021, at which point Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford started addressing multiple issues pertaining to rumors about the next game being under the supervision of Gearbox, and not a bread-and-butter Gearbox title. Since then, the CEO has stated that the team is working on “the big one”—a reference that, in light of recent reports, appears to indicate that the fourth mainline installment is en route.

Recently, a former Gearbox Software employee posted on their LinkedIn profile that they were involved with both Borderlands 4 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2’s development. So, while the game has yet to grasp a concrete release date, several factors clearly indicate that it’s currently in active development, which means we’re likely to see an update much sooner than later.

When all’s said and done, we’re really on speculating at this moment in time, but if we had to put all of our eggs into one basket, then we’d say an appearance at The Game Awards 2023 wouldn’t be out of the question, to say the least. Don’t take our word on that, though.

Trailer

It doesn’t come as much of a surprise to see that there isn’t actually any footage of Borderlands 4, what with it still being under the veil and a stone’s throw away from finding a platform. Don’t sweat it, though — Gearbox Software is sure to bring an announcement trailer to the stage over the next several weeks. The Game Awards, if we’re lucky? The jury’s out on that one.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

So, when exactly can we expect to see Borderlands 4 hit the shelves? Well, that's just it — we don't really know. Having said that, with each entry in the timeline having been released roughly three or four years apart, it's fair to say that the next instalment will likely be released in late 2024 at the earliest. But then, as we're still dwindling in the shadows for the time being, we can only speculate on the matter. For now, at least.

As far as platforms go, it’s fair to say that Borderlands 4 will be releasing on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. It’s doubtful, then, that it’ll be coming to older generations of consoles, as the vast majority of fresh IPs have indeed begun to transition into newer consoles, and thus, leave the likes of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 behind.

If, by chance, you are interested in staying up to date with Gearbox Software's latest endeavours, then be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here. If we do happen to spot anything even the slightest bit newsworthy ahead of its global debut, then we'll be sure to fill in all of the blanks right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Do you think we’ll be seeing Borderlands 4 pop up at some point in 2024? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.