Borderlands 4 Release Date September 2025: New Kairos Planet, Gameplay Features & Everything We Know

Gearbox's flagship looter shooter returns with seamless open-world exploration and revolutionary gameplay mechanics this September.

After six years since Borderlands 3, the franchise that created the looter shooter genre is making its highly anticipated return. Borderlands 4 launches September 12, 2025, bringing players to the dangerous new planet Kairos for what Gearbox calls their most ambitious entry yet.

Why Borderlands 4 Matters for Gaming

The Borderlands series revolutionized gaming by successfully merging first-person shooter mechanics with RPG progression systems. Where games like Hellgate: London failed, Borderlands thrived, establishing the template that modern looter shooters still follow today. With over 87 million copies sold across the franchise, it remains a cornerstone IP for 2K and Gearbox.

What's New in Borderlands 4

Seamless Open World on Kairos

Gearbox describes Kairos as a "seamless" playable space without loading screens, marking a significant departure from Borderlands 3's compartmentalized planet-hopping structure. The planet features four distinct regions: Fadefields, Terminus Range, Carcadia Burn, and the Dominion fortress city.

Revolutionary Movement System

Combat gets a major overhaul with new traversal mechanics. Players can now double jump, glide, dodge, and use grappling hooks to "deal death from every direction", enabling truly three-dimensional combat scenarios that let you fight while airborne.

On-Demand Vehicles and Navigation

The Digirunner vehicle system lets you summon personalized hover bikes almost anywhere, eliminating the need for Catch-A-Ride stations from previous games. Your ECHO-4 drone companion provides navigation guidance and can upgrade ammo capacity or change cosmetics on the fly.

Platform Availability and Release Schedule

Borderlands 4 releases September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Nintendo Switch 2 users get the game on October 3, 2025, with confirmed crossplay support across all platforms.

Story and Setting

Six years after Borderlands 3's events, players fight against the Timekeeper's oppressive rule on Kairos after Pandora's moon Elpis crashed into the planet's protective barrier. The narrative promises a darker tone while maintaining the series' signature humor, focusing on rebellion and resistance themes.

Post-Launch Content Plans

Gearbox has outlined extensive post-launch support including:

• Two major Story Pack DLCs arriving in 2026, each featuring new Vault Hunters and regions
• Four Bounty Packs with focused missions and new bosses
• Free Invincible Boss encounters starting Q4 2025

What This Means for Looter Shooter Fans

Unlike many modern looter shooters that prioritize live-service monetization, Borderlands 4 emphasizes substantial single-player content with optional cooperative play. The game supports up to 4-player online co-op and 2-player local split-screen on console, making it accessible for both solo players and groups.

For fans seeking story-driven action RPGs with meaningful progression systems, Borderlands 4 appears positioned to reclaim the looter shooter crown this fall. The emphasis on seamless exploration, enhanced movement mechanics, and substantial single-player content offers a refreshing alternative to the live-service heavy landscape dominating the genre.

Mark your calendars: Borderlands 4 arrives September 12, 2025, with pre-orders available now starting at $69.99.