I’m not particularly a fan of the Borderlands franchise, but I have to recognize that Borderlands 4 seems entertaining.

When the game developers Randy Varnell and Randy Pitchford presented this latest installment during Sony’s State of Play event, they showcased a thrilling trailer featuring impressive acrobatic gameplay.

The headline news, however, is the announced release date: September 23, 2025 (that’s a Tuesday, in case you were wondering). After struggling with Borderlands 3 and that odd Tiny Tina game, I’ve been hesitant about this series, but the sliding, double jump, and grappling hook mechanics suggest it could be transforming into a movement shooter, and I’m intrigued.

This latest preview offers the most extensive look at Borderlands 4’s gameplay yet. While Gearbox previously presented a trailer at The Game Awards, that focused on characters and humor—elements I’ve never appreciated much. Perhaps Borderlands 4 will change my perspective.

In September, narrative director Sam Winkler stated:

“We want to ensure that the player and the vault hunters are the central characters in our narrative. We aim to create a world that is interactive and grounded. While we strive to maintain the humor that keeps players returning, we want it to emerge naturally within the context.”

Here’s hoping that Borderlands 4’s humor feels more organic than in the Borderlands film, which was a critical and commercial disaster that failed to create the much-anticipated cross-media ‘moment’ Gearbox was counting on.