Amidst swirling rumors and high anticipation, “Borderlands 4” stands poised to redefine the looter-shooter genre, with Gearbox Software hinting at its advanced development stage. Here’s everything we’ve gathered on its potential release and groundbreaking expectations.

Key Takeaways

• Anticipation for “Borderlands 4” is high, with Gearbox Software hinting at its development amidst planning to unveil 10 new games by 2026.
• The Borderlands series has generated over $1 billion, making a sequel highly probable.
• No official release date has been announced, but speculation suggests a potential 2026 release.
• Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford’s hints and former employee leaks suggest “Borderlands 4” is in advanced development.
• The game is expected to launch on next-gen consoles and PC, focusing on modern hardware capabilities.

Does Borderlands 4 actually exist?

When it comes to the development of Borderlands 4, Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford has dropped some subtle but significant hints.

In 2021, Pitchford enigmatically tweeted that he was working on The Big, a statement that sent waves of excitement through the gaming community. Given the huge success of Borderlands 3, it’s almost obvious that this big project is none other than Borderlands 4. 

This speculation is bolstered by the fact that a former Gearbox employee mentioned Borderlands 4 on his LinkedIn profile, indicating that the game would have been in development since at least November 2021. 

While these clues aren’t formal confirmations, they do paint a pretty clear picture: Borderlands 4 isn’t just a collective fantasy. If we analyse all the rumours logically, it seems highly likely that the game has already reached an advanced stage of development.

Since Borderlands 3, the last instalment in the series, Gearbox has created and released two spin-off games set in the same continuity. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and New Tales from the Borderlands both launched in 2022, and it’s still a little hard to fathom that the studio has managed to release a AAA action game and a classic graphic adventure game in the space of three years.

Most developers like Santa Monica Studio need around five years to make a AAA game.

Back on topic, yes, personally I’m convinced that Borderlands 4 is more than just a pipe dream. Borderlands 3 sold over 15 million units and took sales for the entire series to 77 million units. That officially makes Borderlands a billion dollar universe. You’d have to be crazy not to capitalise on that potential, but luckily Gearbox isn’t.

Embracer Group’s Hint at Borderlands 4 Development in Recent Earnings Call.

In February 2022, the Embracer Group held an earnings call, and during the meeting, the company hinted at its future roadmap of titles. Among other studios, including THQ Nordic (Darksiders), and Coffee Stain Holding (Goat Simulator), Gearbox Software is a part of the Embracer group too, so naturally, it would be under discussion.

Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors stated:

“Gearbox are heavily recruiting across their studios……There are also titles that are externally [being] developed, of those 10 titles, there are a few that are more in the concept phase or in the preproduction phase.”

In another meeting, Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox, commented that from those 10, a handful of games being developed are for pre-existing IPs. When you have 10 games in concept stages, it doesn’t take a fortune-teller to tell you that at least 1 of them will be a follow-up to their biggest IP — that’s your cue Borderlands 4.

Borderlands 4 Release Date ?

As yet, no official release date has been announced for Borderlands 4. However, speculation is rife, suggesting a possible release by 2026.

At its previous earnings conference call, Gearbox Software unveiled an ambitious plan to launch ten new titles by 2026. And among those announced games, Borderlands 4 is likely to figure prominently, ready to be unveiled to the world.

Despite the lack of information released by the developers, Gearbox’s CEO has occasionally shared enigmatic messages on Twitter.

One tweet in particular aimed to dispel rumours of a possible change of studio for the Borderlands series. While reassuring fans that the franchise remains in Gearbox’s hands, Randy talked about the studio’s current work on a major project. It’s possible that this could be any sequel, but when it comes to scale, no franchise is bigger than Borderlands.

Speculation about a 2026 release date for Borderlands 4 is rooted in Gearbox Software’s ambitious plan to release 10 new titles by 2026. Given the importance of the Borderlands franchise to Gearbox’s portfolio, it makes sense that Borderlands 4 would be a key part of that roadmap.

When will Borderlands 4 be announced?

Fans of the series are eagerly awaiting the potential announcement of Borderlands 4, and if history repeats itself, PAX East 2024 in March could be the stage for the reveal. This prediction isn’t unprecedented: Gearbox Software has a history of using major video game events for its reveals, as we saw with Borderlands 3 , which was announced at the same event in 2019.

The announcement at PAX East 2024 would likely be a major event, possibly accompanied by a trailer or first glimpse of gameplay. Such a reveal would not only generate immense excitement, but would also pave the way for the marketing campaign leading up to the game’s release.

Platforms: Next-gen for Borderlands 4

Borderlands 4 is expected to be released on the latest generation of consoles and PCs, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. This strategic choice by Gearbox Software is not only in line with the industry’s trend of moving forward, but also ensures that the game will be able to take advantage of the advanced features offered by these platforms.

An important consideration is the likelihood that Borderlands 4 will not be compatible with older consoles such as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This decision, while potentially disappointing for some gamers, is often necessary to avoid the technical limitations of older hardware. 

By focusing on next-gen consoles and modern PCs, Gearbox Software can develop the game without the constraints of outdated technology.

As we eagerly await further news and confirmation on Borderlands 4, the anticipation only builds. What do you think the future holds for this beloved franchise?
Check out our other articles about Borderlands 4 where we’ll delve into why Borderlands 4 needs to leverage Unreal Engine 5, explore the necessity of another instalment in the ‘Borderlands’ series, and discuss what story elements ‘Borderlands 4′ needs to address. 

Join the conversation and share your thoughts and predictions with us.