Between positive previews and hands-on impressions at the Borderlands Fan Fest, Gearbox Entertainment has seemingly surpassed the controversy about Borderlands 4 potentially costing $80. However, there will still be skepticism, especially with how much its contemporary competition has “inspired” things like the Sparrow-like Digirunner, the grappling hook, and so on.
Speaking to GamesRadar, lead writer Taylor Clark says that it’s not trying to “meet the market in some cynical way. “Borderlands is almost old enough to drive. It would be strange if it weren’t constantly growing and adapting.”
“We are a creative team, and there are ideas that we want to express through Borderlands 4; ways that we want to make it feel like we’re breaking fresh ground again.”
Executive producer Chris Brock reveals that the team is taking Borderlands 3’s “same focused approach” on combat “but this time for movement and exploration.” Clark reiterates the lack of loading times and also confirms that players can complete the campaign’s main missions in “pretty much any order.”
If you watched gameplay from the Fan Fest, you’ll also have noticed the Public Event-like missions that can be pursued at any time. Even the Primordial Vault, a core activity, is repeatable and can be used to gear up as you delve into the story. All this feeds into the non-linear gameplay loop.
Borderlands 4 launches on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with the Nintendo Switch 2 version arriving at a later date. Check out the story trailer here, which provides a better look at the Big Bads that you’ll be fighting.