Borderlands 4: Preview of the New Chapter Made by Gearbox

A Mad Return

Finally, we're (almost!) there. After six years of waiting, Gearbox Software is ready to relaunch its most iconic saga with Borderlands 4, set to release on September 12, 2025, for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The new chapter promises to be the most ambitious ever made, with a revamped narrative, deeply evolved gameplay, and a technical department that fully exploits the potential of Unreal Engine 5.

The story takes us to Kairos, an uncharted and hostile planet, ruled by the Chronokeeper, a despot who dominates with an army of synthetics called "The Order." Players will step into the shoes of a new Vault Hunter, tasked with leading the resistance in a world on the brink of collapse. The setting, divided into four interconnected macro-zones, is designed for seamless exploration, with dynamic events and non-linear missions that react to the player's passage. Gearbox avoids calling it an open world, but the structure is clearly more open and fluid than previous chapters.
On the gameplay front, Borderlands 4 introduces unprecedented verticality: double jumps, glides, grappling hooks, climbing, and even the ability to swim transform every encounter into an acrobatic ballet. The movement system, inspired by titles like Doom Eternal, makes combat more spectacular, with enemies employing more complex tactics and environments that invite players to utilize every inch of height.

The beating heart of the series, the weapons, reaches new heights: over 30 billion possible combinations, thanks to the "Licensed Parts" system that allows players to assemble firearms with components from different manufacturers. This enables the creation of hybrid weapons with elemental effects, explosive gadgets, and unpredictable behaviors. The legendary drop rate has been revised to make every find more significant.

The new Vault Hunters offer profoundly different playstyles. Among them, Harlowe stands out, a battle scientist from the Maliwan galaxy, specializing in field control and tactical support. Her skill tree is divided into three distinct branches, each with sub-specializations and passive bonuses, allowing for deep and strategic customization. Vex, a Siren capable of summoning combat clones, was also featured in the Gamescom demo, showcasing the potential of the new abilities in action.
From a technical standpoint, Borderlands 4 marks a clear leap: lighting, reflections, and environment rendering have been significantly improved thanks to Unreal Engine 5. The world of Kairos appears alive, reactive, and visually richer, with settings ranging from alien deserts to snowy peaks, passing through optional dungeons and detailed interiors.
Finally, the humor, always a hallmark of the series, undergoes a transformation: less over-the-top, more contextualized to the dystopian tone of the narrative. Gearbox still promises hilarious moments, but with greater narrative maturity than in the past.

Wow Factor

While, naturally, we will only discuss final considerations during the review phase, I can say that despite the many, many new features under the hood, a real perception of all these changes isn't entirely felt. It's great to dismember enemies with devastating weapons, it's great to get lost in a gigantic world, even if there's a bit too much backtracking in some areas and the "jumps" don't always help us, but it doesn't feel like so much time has passed, on the evolutionary front, since the third chapter, from various points of view. However, we'll talk about this soon. From the very first moments, it's beyond any doubt that this is Borderlands through and through, and for long-time fans, it will certainly be an essential purchase.