Major Updates Revealed in New PlayStation Showcase

Summary

Borderlands 4 is set to drop with many new features, returning characters, and a more grounded tone.
Gameplay reveal showcases new playable characters and their unique combat styles.
Co-op, traversal, and quality-of-life improvements make Borderlands 4 bigger, better, and more stylish.

Vault Hunters rejoice!

The looter-shooter legend is making its big comeback with Borderlands 4, set to release on September 12 this year.

Gearbox announced a ton of new features coming to Borderlands 4 and a meaty gameplay preview of what your average session could look like, from the lobby all the way to a boss fight. Founder Randy Pitchford also promises a more grounded tone this time around, as the last entry received criticism for its humor.

We get confirmation on returning characters from the previous games, including Mad Moxxi, Zane, Amara, and, of course, Claptrap. In this particular gameplay session, we are shown two of our four new cast of playable vault hunters, Vex the Siren and an exosuit-wearing soldier named Rafa.

Borderlands 4’s Release Date Change’s Connection To GTA 6 Clarified

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has confirmed that Borderlands 4’s release date being brought forward has nothing to do with Grand Theft Auto VI.

Vex can blast energy attacks, self-buff, and even summon minions to get some backup during intense encounters, Whereas Rafa is much more direct in his approach, swinging around digitally-constructed swords at his enemies. Each character also possesses their own skill trees, allowing you to make the character truly your own.

Did I mention Vex has a cat summon? And yes, you can pet it.

Check out the gameplay preview here for a taste of what’s to come:

Bigger, Better, and More Badass Than Ever:

So what’s different the fourth time around?

First things first, for those planning to explore the borderlands with friends, co-op is seeing some big changes heading its way. Instead of one campaign difficulty for your co-op session, each player can choose their own difficulty based on how challenging an experience they’re looking for.

You won’t have to worry about your friends snatching all the good stuff, as every player gets their own loot drops. Getting around is also now easier than ever, since you can summon your vehicle whenever you’d like at the push of a button, in addition to fast-travelling straight to your friends.

We also get a good look at arguably the best mechanic in video games, the grappling hook. You can swing off preset points around the map and grab items from afar, similar to Halo Infinite. This, combined with the dash mechanic, makes combat feel more methodical and stylish, letting you fight your own way and look like a total badass while doing it.

Gearbox seems to have really ramped up the traversal here as navigating the open world requires a little more thought now, with gliding, wall climbing, and grappling playing a big role in getting to your next objective in one piece.

Some more quick updates:

Two-player split-screen multiplayer returns for couch co-op gamers
Heal or buff yourself at will thanks to the “Rep Kit” consumable item
Ordnances let you equip a heavy gun, such as RPG’s and machine guns, without sacrificing an entire weapon slot
Scan environments with Echo 4 to reveal objective markers
Zipline up silos/air balloons and catch some serious airtime, similar to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s skyview towers
The higher the rarity, the more chances to receive multiple manufacturer-specific mods in one gun

All in all, I was surprised by the number of new additions to the game, as well as general quality-of-life updates to help me on my next foray into the Borderlands.

With September fast approaching, I can’t wait to dive in with my friends and see for myself just how far this series has come. Hopefully, it doesn’t repeat some of the typical looter-shooter frustrations that come with the genre.

Happy looting!