If you’ve been waiting for concrete info on the next entry in the looter-shooter franchise that defined the genre, you’re not alone. The long-awaited Borderlands 4 state of play showcase dropped last week, and it’s packed with far more details than most fans expected to see this early in the promotional cycle. We sat through every second of the 14-minute presentation, skipped the fluff, and pulled out all the most important updates, changes, and teases that matter for both long-time Borderlands stans and new players curious about the hype.
What the Borderlands 4 State of Play Revealed About Core Gameplay Changes
Gearbox opened the showcase with a deep dive into gameplay tweaks that address almost every common complaint from Borderlands 3. First up, gunplay feels far more responsive, with updated recoil patterns, faster reload animations, and over 1.2 billion unique gun combinations – a 30% increase from the total available in BL3. They also confirmed that the widely panned weapon jam mechanic teased in early playtests has been scrapped entirely, after fan feedback made it clear no one wanted to deal with malfunctioning gear mid-fight.
Movement got a massive overhaul too. Slide canceling is back, and they added wall running and ledge grabbing for faster traversal across the game’s larger open-world maps. One of the biggest surprises from the Borderlands 4 state of play was the reveal of dynamic world events that spawn randomly as you explore, ranging from bandit ambushes to hidden vault raids that reward exclusive legendary gear. You don’t have to engage with them if you’re focused on the main story, but they add a ton of replay value for players who like to wander off the beaten path.
New Vault Hunters and Playable Character Updates
The showcase revealed four playable vault hunters, all with unique backstories and skill sets that cater to different playstyles. Ryn, the new Siren class, can summon dual phase arms that both heal nearby allies and tear through enemy shields, making her a perfect pick for players who like to fill a support role while still dealing damage. Jax, a former Dahl mercenary, uses a deployable turret that switches between explosive rounds and healing darts, and he can also activate a temporary damage buff that boosts his entire team’s output.
Miko, the cybernetic beastmaster, commands a pack of three modified skags that evolve as you level up, gaining new abilities like elemental breath and self-revives if they fall in combat. Kael, a former Atlas graffiti artist, uses explosive spray cans to tag enemies for extra damage and can create temporary portals to reposition his team or escape tight spots. Each vault hunter comes with three base skill trees, plus a fourth endgame skill tree that unlocks at level 50, letting you create far more diverse builds than were possible in past entries. There was no mention of returning playable characters like Tiny Tina or Lilith during the Borderlands 4 state of play, but the devs noted that fan-favorite NPCs will make appearances throughout the main story. You can also respec your skills for free at any fast travel station, no more spending Eridium to tweak your build mid-playthrough.
Co-op and Multiplayer Quality of Life Changes
Borderlands has always been best played with friends, and the devs made it clear they’re prioritizing co-op improvements for this entry. Crossplay is fully supported across all platforms at launch, with no platform-exclusive content or timed exclusives for any console. Split-screen co-op is also getting a massive upgrade, with 2-player split-screen running at 60fps on next-gen consoles, and the buggy frame rate issues that plagued BL3 split-screen have been fixed entirely.
As noted in the Borderlands 4 state of play, the team has rolled out dozens of small QoL changes for co-op that add up to a way smoother experience. Some of the most notable updates include:
- Drop-in, drop-out co-op with no progress loss for either player, even if you join a friend who’s 20 levels ahead of you, with automatic level scaling for your gear to keep you competitive
- Full cross-save support across all platforms, so you can pick up your save file on PC, PS5, or Xbox whenever you switch devices without losing any progress
- Dynamic difficulty scaling that adjusts based on the number of players in your lobby, so content stays challenging even if you bring a full 4-person team, no more one-shotting bosses if you group up
Shared loot is now optional by default, so you can choose between individual loot rolls for every player or shared loot if you prefer to split gear as a group. No more fighting over legendary drops with your friends that you’ve been grinding for hours to get. If you usually play co-op with random players, you’ll be happy to hear that the lobby system teased in the Borderlands 4 state of play lets you filter for players who are running the same mission, or who prefer individual loot, so you don’t have to deal with toxic players stealing your drops. They also added a new 4-player exclusive game mode called Vault Heists, which are long, multi-stage missions with unique legendary rewards you can’t get anywhere else in the game.
Release Window and Post-Launch Plan Teases
The only letdown for many viewers was the lack of a firm, specific release date, but Gearbox did confirm the game is launching during the holiday window of the coming year, with pre-orders going live next month. Pre-order bonuses include an exclusive legendary weapon, a custom skin for your vault hunter, and early access to the open beta that’s launching three months before the full game releases. If you want early access to the beta, you can sign up through the official Gearbox site now, and everyone who participates will get an exclusive cosmetic that was first shown off during the Borderlands 4 state of play.
The devs also laid out their post-launch plan, which includes four major story DLC expansions, each with a new playable area, new enemies, and new legendary gear. All four DLCs are included in the deluxe edition of the game, with no separate season pass required for purchase. Most importantly, there will be no pay-to-win microtransactions of any kind. All cosmetic items are earnable through gameplay, and the only real-money purchases available will be optional cosmetic packs if you want to support the devs without grinding for skins.
All in all, the Borderlands 4 state of play felt like a love letter to long-time fans of the franchise, with almost every common complaint from past entries being addressed directly. The team clearly spent a lot of time listening to feedback, and the changes to gameplay, co-op, and post-launch content all point to this being the strongest Borderlands entry yet. If you’re new to the series, the improved onboarding and accessible difficulty settings make this the perfect time to jump in, and we’ll be sharing more details, build guides, and gameplay tips as more info drops leading up to launch.