Borderlands 4 Fan Fest just wrapped, and it kicked off with the debut of the brand-new Borderlands 4 Story Trailer. The new footage dives straight into the planet of Kairos and the rise of the Timekeeper, setting the stage for a civil war between a synthetic army and a growing rebellion. Gearbox followed up the trailer with a full stage presentation at Fan Fest, walking through new gameplay systems, Vault Hunter details, and even a few surprises.
Borderlands 4 is still set to launch on September 12, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It’s also coming to Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, and GeForce NOW support is confirmed for launch day.
A New God, a Hidden World, and a Civil War
The Borderlands 4 Story Trailer gives us our best look yet at Kairos, a hidden planet locked away for centuries by the Timekeeper. In this world, freedom doesn’t exist. From birth, people have bolts forced into their necks that let the Timekeeper see through their eyes or take control of their bodies. Kairos has no sky, no stars, and no idea anything exists beyond it.
That changes when the moon Elpis crashes into Kairos. The same Elpis that Lilith teleported away at the end of Borderlands 3. When it shatters the veil hiding the planet, people finally see the sky. One woman finds a Psycho mask in the wreckage and sees it as a sign. She rips the bolt from her spine and starts a movement. Some die trying. Others survive and join her rebellion. They call themselves the Rippers.
Now there is a civil war. The Timekeeper still rules with his synthetic army, the Order. His immortality depends on controlling Kairos and the Vaults. But the Rippers are fighting back. As a Vault Hunter, you are dropping into this chaos in search of legendary vaults, and you will have to choose who to trust along the way.
Meet the New Vault Hunters
Gearbox gave a proper introduction to the four new Vault Hunters during Borderlands 4 Fan Fest. All four Vault Hunters were introduced back at PAX East, but this was our first real deep dive into their abilities and playstyles.
First up is Harlowe, a scientist-turned-fighter who uses physics to control the battlefield. She can trap enemies in floating bubbles, slam them around, and chain explosions between targets. If you like crowd control or big group fights, Harlo is a strong pick.
Then there’s Amon, a forge knight who starts with two elemental axes. One deals fire damage, the other ice. His abilities let him morph those weapons into new forms, giving you flexibility and power. If you want someone who feels like a fantasy tank with options, Aean is it.
Vex is the group’s Siren, leaning into darker powers. She can summon ghostly minions like reapers and specters, but also has a pet cat named Trouble. Yes, you can pet the cat. Vex mixes traditional Siren energy with goth-witch vibes, and her minions can overrun the battlefield.
Last is Rafa, born in microgravity and dependent on his heavy-duty exosuit to function. He uses AI-controlled weapon arms and blade attacks that even shift the camera into third-person. He’s all about speed, violence, and flashy takedowns.
Every Vault Hunter comes with three switchable action skills, and Gearbox says skill trees are deeper than ever. Even if four people all pick Vex, they can still run completely different builds.
Traversal, Combat, and Customization Overhaul
Movement in Borderlands 4 has taken a huge leap forward. You now have a full kit that includes double jump, glide, grapple, swim, dash, climb, and vaulting. You can chain these together to stay airborne, flank enemies, or reach hidden areas across Kairos. The grappling hook also lets you pull objects like explosive barrels and throw them at enemies.
That freedom plays directly into combat. You can shoot while gliding or grappling, rain fire from above, or dash through incoming attacks in any direction. Water is no longer off-limits. You can now swim through flooded zones that used to act as barriers. It all fits into a seamless open world with no loading screens between areas.
Weapons have evolved as well. Borderlands 4 introduces licensed parts, which let manufacturers like Jakobs or Torgue share components for new hybrids. One example shown was an Order pistol that fires Torgue sticky grenades and reloads like a Tediore launcher. These mixed-part guns drop naturally during play.
New manufacturers also bring fresh options. Ripper weapons focus on speed and rate of fire. Order guns can be charged for powerful single shots. Daedalus gear accepts any ammo type, letting you fire shotgun rounds from a sniper rifle if needed.
Inventory systems are getting upgrades too. The new Ordnance slot replaces the grenade button and runs on cooldowns instead of ammo. You can equip heavy gear like wrist rockets, throwing knives, or launchers and use them like an extra action skill. The Echo-4 unit handles fast travel and gear management. New Repkits and Enhancements give even more ways to tweak your build.
The Wait for September Just Got Harder
Between the new Borderlands 4 Story Trailer and everything shown at Borderlands 4 Fan Fest, Gearbox gave us a lot to process. Kairos looks like a massive step forward for the series. The story sets up a proper civil war, the Vault Hunters feel distinct and flexible, and the traversal and loot systems look like they are finally getting the overhaul fans have been asking for.
If you missed the earlier reveals, check out our Borderlands 4 PAX East breakdown for more on the world of Kairos, and our Borderland 4 pre-order guide for full edition and DLC details.
What stood out to you in the new trailer? Are you already picking a Vault Hunter, or are you just here for the mayhem? Let us know.
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