Gab Hernandez 
Gearbox Studios just dropped a teaser for Borderlands 4, and a release date window has been confirmed alongside teases for some returning characters.
The Borderlands franchise had a rollercoaster year in 2024. Many fans worried about the franchise’s future when Embracer Group, who previously owned the series, began mass layoffs. Fortunately for the studio, 2K Games acquired Gearbox Studios and the Borderlands franchise, a pairing that satisfied many.
However, the hype turned into disappointment when the Borderlands movie flopped in August 2024. The odd casting, derivative story, and terrible timing alongside Deadpool 3’s release meant the movie bombed at the box office. Still, the criticisms came from a place of love for the fans. The Gamescom 2024 teaser for Borderlands 4, coupled with the reveal of returning characters, rekindled some of the enthusiasm among fans.
When is the release date for Borderlands 4?
Borderlands 4 will launch in 2025. No exact release date was revealed.
Nothing was revealed for the game in terms of gameplay. Most fans agree that Borderlands 3’s gunplay is the best in the series, and wouldn’t mind if it played exactly the same. Even so, Borderlands has a penchant for replacing its core cast of Vault Hunters in every game. Either way, fans will likely have to wait several months before finding out who they are.
Borderlands 4 has been expected for some time, with the game being accidentally confirmed in 2023. The ups and downs of Gearbox on the business side may or may not have impacted the timetable for release. Regardless, a new mainline sequel for Borderlands ought to be welcome news for fans, given how the series was potentially doomed not long ago.
Which characters will appear in Borderlands 4?
Lilith is likely to return in Borderlands 4, and Handsome Jack could factor into the story.
The short teaser video began with a burning Firehawk, Lilith’s iconic sigil. It then fades to Elpis, Pandora’s moon, and the main setting of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel crackling with mysterious energy. Finally, a robotic hand, speculated by fans to be of Eridian origin, grabs a highly detailed psycho mask before cutting to the logo.
The trailer didn’t reveal much, but it confirmed Lilith’s presence in the story. Given her importance in the past three games, it shouldn’t be surprising for most fans. Plus, she was one of the main characters from the Borderlands movie, so it’s clear the creative team acknowledges her popularity.
For many, the most interesting aspect is the return to Elpis. After all, the Pre-Sequel focused on Handsome Jack’s character arc from bumbling anti-hero to psychopathic megalomaniac. There could be a chance that traces of Handsome Jack’s past will appear.
Whether that means the character will return remains a mystery. Nevertheless, fans are cautiously excited. Despite Borderlands 3’s commercial success, it divided fans because of its disappointing story. Fans hope for a return to the character-driven writing of Borderlands 2, especially in terms of its villains.
