Borderlands 4 State Of Play Video Showcases Two Of The Four Vault Hunters

Gearbox Software has shown off more gameplay of its upcoming looter shooter Borderlands 4, and it’s a doozy.

In addition to the gameplay and the guns we’ll get to use, we get a preview of a few of the Vault Hunters.

• Vex the Siren can empower herself with her trademark Phase energy and summon deadly shades to fight alongside her, making her the Pet Class similar to FL4K from the last game. Only with Phase powers from Maya, Amara, and Lilith from past games. Vex had a rough upbringing that was made more complicated by receiving her Siren powers. Her cynical and sarcastic demeanor comes from having to fend for herself and scrape for everything she’s got. But underneath her salty exterior, Vex is an empath who knows better than anyone how much life can suck. Ever the pessimist, Vex still believes in helping others. And if helping others means dealing damage to oppressive jerks, Vex will always be first in line.
• Rafa the Exo-Soldier is a former Tediore trooper who uses an experimental exo-suit that digistructs an arsenal of weapons. Rafa was born and raised in microgravity, which severely altered his bone density and musculature, making it impossible for him to survive elsewhere. Desperate to explore, he signed up to Tediore’s military force. In exchange for a tour of duty, his body was altered for a new kind of exo-suit. But when it became clear Tediore never intended to end his service, Rafa went AWOL. Now he’s on the run and plans to enjoy whatever time he has left before his Tediore Deadframe ends him for good.

There’s no extended gameplay for the two other Vault Hunters, but here are some details on them on the game’s official website:

• Harlowe is a former Maliwan combat scientist; she’s also a relative of the evil Traunt family in the third game, but clearly not evil. Harlowe has used her intellect to bring new tech and gadgetry to the battlefield as a Vault Hunter. Harlowe’s brilliance is apparent in everything she does, but so is her enthusiasm and love for life. Harlowe brings everything to the fight, including her sunny disposition. Always ready to give a beat down, her spirit can’t be beat.
• Amon is a Forgeknight, raised in a monster-worshipping cult. As the only survivor of his cult, he dedicates his life to finding and killing as many of these beasts as he can. Amon, a warrior-poet, is introspective and unflinching to his duty, but despite his hardened appearance, he has a warm attitude, often regaling comrades in arms with stories and advice earned throughout his travels.

As seen in the explosive footage shared during PlayStation’s State of Play, Vex and Rafa tear a path through a secret blacksite in Terminus Range, a frigid, mountainous region. This extended gameplay segment showcases the destructive power of the updated gear system in Borderlands 4, fueling the wildest loot chase ever, including:

• Deadly weapons from across eight new and returning manufacturers, each boasting their own devastating strengths.
• Licensed Parts system that combines the behaviors and abilities from multiple manufacturers into a single weapon.
• Enhancements gear slot to augment weapons based on their manufacturer, rewarding extra firepower with an optimized gear loadout.
• Ordnance, a shared slot for Grenades and Heavy Weapons like rocket launchers, recharges on a cooldown to keep you locked and loaded during especially tough encounters.
• Rep Kit gear adds utility by letting players heal themselves or activate temporary buffs to help turn the tide of an intense battle.

Speaking of gun manufacturers, Borderlands 4’s returning manufacturers include Tediore, Jakobs, Vladoff, Torque, and Maliwan. New ones include Ripper (full-auto), Order (charge-and-release guns), and Daedalus (multiple ammo types). The game also has a new license parts system where multiple manufacturer perks can be found on one weapon.

Borderlands 4 will be out for PC and consoles on 12 September. The Nintendo Switch 2 version will be out later in 2025.