Tuesday, April 29th 2025
Borderlands 4 Release Date Switch-Up Could Hint at GTA VI Launch Date
2K Games just announced that Borderlands will launch almost two weeks earlier than expected, moving the release date from September 23 to September 12. Nothing else regarding the release seems to have changed, with even the launch trailer even remaining unchanged with the old September 23 release date still present. 2K Games and Gearbox haven't specified a reason for the release date switch-up, but it's currently theorized that the looter-shooter was moved to make space for the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Rumors and leaks previously indicated that GTA VI would launch sometime around October or November 2025, and we previously reported that game developers were already nervous about launching games within at least two weeks of the launch of GTA VI. The concern was that GTA VI would overshadow any other games that released even remotely close to it. It seems as though even a genre giant like Borderlands 4 isn't immune to this effect. Currently, the only concrete information about the GTA VI launch date is a confirmation that it will launch in "Autumn 2025," and indications are that the PC version will only arrive in early 2026. Borderlands 4, on the other hand, will have a simultaneous multi-platform launch, coming to Steam, Epic Games, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 on day one—there has been talk of a Nintendo Switch 2 port, but that release date is thus far unknown. Along with the new launch date, 2K Games has also announced that it will host a Borderlands 4 gameplay showcase on April 30 at 14:00 PT (21:00 UTC).
Sources:
2K Games, Gearbox Official on X
Rumors and leaks previously indicated that GTA VI would launch sometime around October or November 2025, and we previously reported that game developers were already nervous about launching games within at least two weeks of the launch of GTA VI. The concern was that GTA VI would overshadow any other games that released even remotely close to it. It seems as though even a genre giant like Borderlands 4 isn't immune to this effect. Currently, the only concrete information about the GTA VI launch date is a confirmation that it will launch in "Autumn 2025," and indications are that the PC version will only arrive in early 2026. Borderlands 4, on the other hand, will have a simultaneous multi-platform launch, coming to Steam, Epic Games, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 on day one—there has been talk of a Nintendo Switch 2 port, but that release date is thus far unknown. Along with the new launch date, 2K Games has also announced that it will host a Borderlands 4 gameplay showcase on April 30 at 14:00 PT (21:00 UTC).
Get ready for a deep dive on Borderlands 4! During a special State of Play presentation with PlayStation, the Gearbox team will share the nitty-gritty details of how you'll wreak havoc across Kairos and take down the Timekeeper.
Catch the show live on PlayStation's Twitch and YouTube channels on April 30 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST.
Back in our Launch Date Trailer, we showcased a taste of the explosive action, fearsome enemies, and powerful loot that await you. Since then, we've announced that Borderlands 4's launch has moved up to September 12, 2025, meaning you'll get to enjoy the looter shooter action even earlier!
In this upcoming State of Play, strap in with Creative Director Graeme Timmins and Senior Project Producer Anthony Nicholson for over 15 minutes of developer-guided gameplay, including missions, killer weapons, exciting Action Skills, new and returning characters, and more.
While you wait, head to the official Borderlands site for everything you need to know about Borderlands 4, check out the game's newly revealed key art, and remember to wishlist the game on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S ahead of its launch on September 12, 2025. We'll see you on April 30!
15 Comments on Borderlands 4 Release Date Switch-Up Could Hint at GTA VI Launch Date
Edit: 'Neither' added, thanks!
2K are absolute scum, on par with ubisoft or EA, and should be treated as such.
Have to wait 2 years for steam sale prices ;)
Borderlands serie I've been playing since BL 1 day 1 and easily put 2000+ hours into the whole thing so far '1100+ in BL3 alone' so BL 4 is an instant buy on my end and its the game I'm looking forward to the most this year.:) 'might even pull a GPU upgrade because of it..'
;)
My wish is that they revert to what make BL, BL. The game play, animation etc. I really wish they can bring back the bl1 weapon system, where you use one gun and gets better in using it. Only thing I missed from BL 1 to BL 2. Also the Passive system on the first 2 games was a lot better implemented than in bl 3. This is just my opinion. If it feels like BL 3, I'll skip it.
I mean I wont pretend the original BL1 is a great game, but at least it wasn't game breaking buggy. And most of its issues are not related to bugs anyway.. just general game design which was improved with 2 & 3. I don't particularly miss the 'one weapon type getting better as you use it' thing because it felt like it forced you into using certain weapons if they you already unknowingly were using that weapon type a lot. It was a mechanic that got replaced by Badass rank for a reason, and honestly its a lot less intrusive and actually able to be disabled so I don't mind it as much (though its equally as annoying to grind)
Not sure what you mean by the passive system. Passive skills work fine in BL3, about identically to they did in BL1 and BL2. Same here but I am probably gonna end up skipping BL4 initially. The game doesn't look that impressive or cool to be honest. I love borderlands but BL3 left a 'its good but I don't know if its THAT good' taste in my mouth. I like playing that game for its gunplay and movement but man, everything else kind of is just.. meh? The artstyle of 3 isn't really my thing but its not really bad, the story feels haphazard and lazily written (because apparently they cut a ton of it and moved it around a ton, which ended up character assassinating some characters like Ava) etc etc. Hope BL4 isn't the same.
I have every single char at max level with an end game build, actually I have 2 max level Sirens cause I've finished the game again with a friend like a half year ago so I've had to start a new char. :laugh: 'we had a blast and he did like the game overall, hes also an ex BL1/2 player but never played 3 till late 2024'
So far 4 seems to share the same kind of gameplay at least if not faster so thats already a big + on my side, story is supposedly more serious but even if its not it should do the job for this kind of a game.
Whats gonna matter to me is how they handle the max level content like farming/build diversity/Raids and such. 'Thats where Wonderlands fell short and kind of failed, such a shame cause the rest of the game was pretty good'
Mayhem mode is, fine too. Again, I just feel.. fine about it. BL2's endgame got cancerous after awhile I know but it felt more diverse. BL3's balancing is undoubtedly better than 2's though. Endgame BL2 even with Level 72 / OP8 instead of Level 80 / OP10 was awful. Beeshield or Die. Aslong as its better than 3 the story is fine to me.. 3 had a lot of really good potential but they threw it away hard. I still finished the story and got one character to endgame (Zane), got two other characters near endgame but I stopped caring after awhile
Pearls yeah I would love to see them making a comeback, did so many Crawmerax runs in BL 1 and whenever I've noticed the pearl beam I've got excited like a kid at xmas. :laugh: 'I don't want them to be completely broken just something to look out for while farming'
But yea I really hope that they will get this one right and it wont take them 1+ year to fix core issues like it was with BL 3. 'it is a fine game by now but they had so many early issues that needed like 2 DLCs worth of patches to fix and even more balance/quality of life change patches later..'
Either way I will be picking up the game on day 1 cause I'm too much of a fan.:slap: