Strap in, loot lovers — Borderlands is back, and it’s bringing chaos to a whole new corner of the galaxy.
This week, Gearbox pulled back the curtain on Borderlands 4, offering fans a juicy 20-minute look at gameplay, plus a brand-new story trailer that sets the stage for the next chapter in the franchise’s over-the-top universe. If you’ve been missing the series’ signature cocktail of high-powered weapons, bizarre humor, and total mayhem, it looks like you’re in for a wild return.
Borderlands 4 drops us onto a brand-new planet called Kairos — and let’s just say, it’s not exactly a vacation spot. Like its infamous predecessor Pandora, Kairos is teeming with hostile bandits, monstrous creatures, and a new top-tier villain: a tyrant known only as The Timekeeper.
The game kicks off with your character crash-landing on this lawless world and quickly being captured by enemy forces. That’s when the fireworks start — and yes, you’re recruited by none other than Claptrap, our favorite overly chatty robot pal. He’s leading a fledgling rebellion against The Timekeeper, and he needs your help.
If you’ve played any Borderlands game before, you know what to expect: fast-paced chaos, a mountain of loot drops, colorful characters, and enough punchlines to fill a season of TV. But this time, there’s a slightly different flavor to the narrative — more structure, more emotional stakes, and an antagonist with an actual backstory and motivation. Don’t worry, though — the game hasn’t lost its snarky edge.
The newly released story trailer dives deeper into the plot. We don’t learn everything about The Timekeeper, but there are plenty of clues — and a heavy dose of foreboding. Time manipulation might be in play here, which raises some intriguing possibilities for both story and gameplay.
As always, it’s Vault Hunters vs. the world. And while we haven’t gotten a full rundown of the new characters yet, the game appears to be doubling down on its strongest assets:
Borderlands 4 is set to launch on September 23, 2025, and it’s coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC. So you’ve got over a year to rally your friends, clear your calendar, and maybe do a warm-up run through the earlier games.
And if the 20-minute IGN gameplay reel is anything to go by, there’s a ton to be excited about. Expect wild new weapons, even weirder bad guys, and — yes — plenty of loot for you to hoard or share (but mostly hoard).
If you missed the gameplay footage, head over to IGN and check it out now. Between the stylish madness and thrilling shootouts, Borderlands 4 is shaping up to be everything fans could hope for — and maybe more.
So, what do you think of the first proper look at Borderlands 4? Does Kairos look like your next destination for chaotic adventuring? Let us know — we’ve got time.