Borderlands 4 Release Moved Up to Sept 12

Ever get that rush when a game you’re hyped for lands sooner than expected? That’s the vibe with Borderlands 4 right now. Gearbox just shook things up, pulling the release date forward and giving us a State of Play to chew on tomorrow, April 30. As a gamer who’s been looting and shooting since the original Borderlands dropped, I’m stoked to break this down for you.

Originally slated for September 23, Borderlands 4 is now hitting PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on September 12. That’s over a week earlier—rare in an industry where delays are more common than a legendary drop in a loot grinder. Word is, Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford spilled the beans in a video that went live too soon, only for the studio to confirm the news an hour later. Gotta love the chaos of a leaked reveal, right? Reminds me of those wild Borderlands 2 forum days when dataminers would unearth DLC secrets before official announcements.

This early launch is a win. It means more time to dive into the new planet Kairos, where you’ll control one of four fresh Vault Hunters taking on the Timekeeper, a dictator who sounds like a nightmare boss fight. And heads up: a Switch 2 version is coming later this year, so portable chaos is on the horizon.

Gearbox is rolling out a 20-minute Borderlands 4 State of Play tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET, hosted by creative director Graeme Timmins and senior project producer Anthony Nicholson. They’re promising a deep dive into gameplay, and I’m betting it’ll be packed with the series’ signature over-the-top action. Expect new weapons—probably some absurdly fun guns like the ones in Borderlands 3 that sang opera when you reloaded. Returning characters? My money’s on some fan-favorites making a comeback, maybe even a nod to Tiny Tina’s unhinged energy. And Action Skills? Those are the bread-and-butter of Vault Hunter builds, so I’m curious to see how Gearbox shakes up the skill trees this time.

Back when I was grinding Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, tinkering with Claptrap’s wonky skill tree taught me how much these systems can define your playstyle. Tomorrow’s showcase should give us a taste of that freedom. If you’re new to the series, Action Skills are basically your character’s unique abilities—think explosive barrages or summoning robotic pets—that make every firefight feel like a personal power trip.

An early release like this isn’t just about getting the game faster; it’s a signal. Gearbox seems confident in Borderlands 4’s polish, which is huge after some of the launch bugs we’ve seen in other looter-shooters. Remember Anthem’s rocky start? Yeah, nobody wants that. Dropping early suggests the team’s ready to deliver the chaotic, loot-filled mayhem we crave without needing last-minute crunch.

For veteran players, this also means more time to theorycraft builds before the inevitable endgame grind. If you’re planning to main a Vault Hunter, start thinking about whether you’ll lean into elemental damage or go for raw DPS. The Borderlands community thrives on this stuff—check out the X posts buzzing about potential skill trees if you want a head start.

Unveiled at Gamescom 2024, Borderlands 4 takes us to Kairos, a planet that sounds like a mix of Pandora’s lawlessness and a sci-fi dystopia. You’re hunting riches while battling the Timekeeper’s forces, which promises a campaign full of the series’ trademark humor and over-the-top villains. I can already picture the banter between Vault Hunters, probably roasting each other mid-firefight like my old co-op crew used to do during Borderlands 2 raids.

The setting’s got me nostalgic for the first time I stepped into Pandora’s dusty wastes, clueless about how deep the loot rabbit hole went. Kairos feels like it’ll keep that spirit alive while cranking the visuals and mechanics for next-gen hardware. If you’re new, don’t sweat it—the series is great at onboarding fresh players with its mix of simple shooting and deep RPG systems.

With the State of Play tomorrow and the release now just months away on September 12, it’s time to gear up for Borderlands 4. Whether you’re a grizzled Vault Hunter or a newbie ready to dive into the chaos, this is shaping up to be a wild ride. Keep an eye on that presentation for gameplay reveals, and maybe start clearing your schedule for some serious looting come September.

What are you hoping to see in Borderlands 4? And if you’re as pumped as I am, check out our other Borderlands content to tide you over until Kairos opens its doors.