Summary
Texas-based Gearbox Software is a respected development outfit, best known in modern times for itsBorderlandsseries. Initially cutting its teeth developingHalf-Lifeexpansions for Valve, Gearbox went on to produce the popularBrothers In Armsseries, after which it started work onBorderlands.The firstBorderlandsgame was released in 2009 to a largely positive critical and public reception and has since spawned 2 mainline sequels along with a handful of spin-offs.
WhileBorderlands 3isn’t the fan-favorite release, it has solidified the presence of the series in the hearts and minds of gamers all over the world. It seems unlikely that Gearbox Software will put its most popular franchise out to pasture, so it makes more sense to ask when rather than if it will eventually come out.
The Borderlands Timeline
The most logical way to gauge whenBorderlands 4might come out is to look at the established development cycle of previous games. Historically, games in theBorderlandsseries have been released within a time frame that has varied wildly. Looking at only the numbered titles, theBorderlandsrelease history is as follows:
Borderlandsmight be the studio’s most popular franchise, butGearbox Software has also developed other titles in between. Its most recent title isTiny Tina’s Wonderlandswhich arrived in 2022. Following its 2015 acquisition by Embracer Group, Gearbox also expanded its business to publishing third-party games such asWe Happy Few, Hyper Light Breaker,andRemnant 2.
Extrapolating The Borderlands 4 Release Date From The Established Trends
The first 2Borderlandstitles arrived in the 7th generation of home consoles, withBorderlands 3arriving in the 8th generation.Borderlands 4will presumably arrive in the current 9th generation, which is expected to last until around 2027, so it is a fair assumption that it will arrive sometime before then.Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford teased fansthat the studio is working on “the [next] big one” since 2019, so if he was referring toBorderlands 4, it could already be around 4 years in the making. One can use this information to make an educated guess about when it will arrive.
IfBorderlands 4was nearing the end of development, it would likely be announced by now. A 2025-2026 release window seems reasonable based on what little is known, barring any major development issues. Gearbox has favored release dates around the end of Q3 forBorderlandsgames, soBorderlands 4will likely arrive around a similar time. Fans can probably mark their calendars for around the end of Q3 in 2025 or 2026.
Gearbox Studios Previous Borderlands Development Cycles
Borderlands 3was announced around 6 months before it launched at PAX East 2019, so the studio will likely adopt a similar strategy forBorderlands 4. There have been rumors thatBorderlands 4may arrive sooner rather than later, but one should always take rumors with a grain of salt.Borderlands 3only arrived 7 years afterBorderlands 2, so if the next entry into the series takes as long to develop, that would put it in 2026.
Taking all this information into account, the most likely release window forBorderlands 4is September-October 2026. It may come earlier, but there is no concrete information to support an earlier release. All that is known for certain is thatBorderlands 4could be make or break for Gearbox. It remains to be seen if this prediction is accurate in any way.
Borderlands 4is rumored to be in development.
Borderlands
Borderlands is an action RPG first-person shooter created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. The series is commonly called a looter shooter set in a space Western style, where players can select from multiple classes that can level up and acquire new skills. The franchise has quickly become one of the best-selling franchises and produced spin-offs like Tales from the Borderlands as well as a film adaptation being developed by Lionsgate.
