Borderlands 4: Release Date, Rumors, and What Fans Want

Last Updated: October 26, 2025

The guns are quiet, for now. While the Borderlands universe continues to expand with the Tiny Tina's Wonderlands spin-off and a blockbuster movie, the question on every Vault Hunter’s mind remains: When is Borderlands 4 coming?

Though Gearbox Software and 2K have yet to make an official announcement, the sequel to the celebrated looter-shooter is one of the most anticipated games on the horizon. The ending of Borderlands 3 left the door wide open for new adventures, and years of post-launch support for the franchise have only stoked the fires of speculation.

The Official Status: What Gearbox Has Said

As of today, Borderlands 4 is not officially confirmed. However, Gearbox Entertainment's founder, Randy Pitchford, has repeatedly indicated that the studio is working on "the big one." During an IGN interview in 2021, he explicitly stated that the studio was working on a new entry, fueling speculation that pre-production or active development was underway.

With the studio's parent company, Embracer Group, selling Gearbox to Take-Two Interactive (the parent of 2K Games) in early 2024, the franchise is now firmly under the same umbrella as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. This move has been seen by many as a signal of long-term commitment and investment in the future of Borderlands. While Gearbox continues to work on other projects, the development of a mainline sequel is considered an inevitability.

Borderlands 4 Release Date Speculation

Without an official announcement, a release date is pure speculation. However, we can look at the development history for clues. There was a seven-year gap between Borderlands 2 (2012) and Borderlands 3 (2019). If Gearbox follows a similar timeline, and considering development likely began in earnest after BL3's DLC cycle concluded, a release window between 2025 and 2027 seems plausible.

The industry has also changed, with development cycles for major AAA titles becoming longer and more complex. It's more likely that Gearbox will take its time to ensure Borderlands 4 is a true next-generation leap for the series.

Key Features Fans Demand for the Next Mayhem-Fueled Outing

Based on years of community feedback from Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, a clear picture has emerged of what players expect from a true sequel. These aren't just minor tweaks; they're foundational improvements that would elevate the entire experience.

1. A Console FOV Slider and Next-Gen Performance

Perhaps the single most requested quality-of-life feature from previous console versions is a Field of View (FOV) slider. This standard PC gaming option allows players to widen their perspective, which can improve spatial awareness and reduce motion sickness. Its inclusion in Borderlands 4 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S is considered a must-have by the community.

Beyond this, players expect rock-solid performance. A sequel must target 60 FPS as a baseline for its performance modes on current-gen consoles, ensuring the fast-paced, chaotic gunplay feels fluid and responsive. Optimizing the game engine to reduce stuttering and lag, which occasionally cropped up in graphically intense moments in BL3, will be crucial for a smooth day-one launch.

2. A More Balanced and Diverse Metagame

Borderlands 3's post-launch support involved numerous patches to buff underperforming skills and gear, dramatically shifting the metagame over time. For Borderlands 4, fans are hoping Gearbox applies these lessons from the start.

A key expectation is a greater diversity in viable end-game builds for each Vault Hunter. This involves creating a healthier balance between weapons, class mods, and anointments (the series' system for enchanting gear). The goal is to encourage player experimentation and move away from a meta where only a handful of specific gear combinations are effective at the highest difficulty levels. Substantial re-balancing to ensure more legendary items and character skills are powerful and fun would be a massive step forward.

3. Evolving the Looter-Shooter Formula

While the core "shoot-and-loot" loop is sacred, there's always room for innovation. Fans are eager to see how Gearbox will evolve the formula. This could include more dynamic world events, deeper weapon customization systems, or entirely new traversal mechanics to build on the mantling and sliding introduced in BL3.

The narrative also has a huge opportunity to grow. After the galaxy-spanning stakes of the previous game, players are ready to explore the fallout, search for lost friends, and face the corporate armies and cosmic horrors that await in a post-Calypso Twins universe.

The Road Ahead

The response from the Borderlands community shows a player base that is passionate, engaged, and ready for the next chapter. While Gearbox remains tight-lipped about the future, their track record of long-term support and responsiveness to feedback suggests a bright future for the franchise. Until an official reveal, all we can do is keep our eyes peeled for SHiFT codes, re-watch the movie trailer, and dream of the billions of new guns that await us in Borderlands 4.