Borderlands 4 has officially opened for pre-orders as of June 16, 2025, much to the excitement of fans eager to dive back into Gearbox Software’s wildly popular looter-shooter franchise. After months of speculation and some controversy over pricing, the game’s pricing details are now clear: the Standard Edition will cost $69.99, a price point that avoids the $80 tag that many feared following industry trends.
The announcement comes from both Gearbox and publisher 2K, who revealed that Borderlands 4 will launch worldwide on September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also planned for later in 2025, although it will not release simultaneously with the other platforms.
“I’ve been blown away by how high the team at Gearbox have raised the bar for Borderlands 4,” said David Ismailer, President of 2K. “The development team crafted a premium AAA adventure that evolves the series’ gameplay and storytelling in new ways, while delivering on the quintessential Borderlands looter-shooter experience fans know and love.”
Gearbox founder and President Randy Pitchford echoed this enthusiasm, calling Borderlands 4 “the most excited the team and I have ever been to launch a Borderlands game.” He described it as both a welcoming entry point for newcomers and a heartfelt love letter to longtime fans.
Players will embark on an adventure on the sprawling planet Kairos, the largest Borderlands world yet, taking on the role of one of four new Vault Hunters. Each character brings unique abilities to the table, and with billions of weapons available, players will have countless ways to battle foes. New traversal mechanics will help explorers navigate Kairos and confront the tyrannical Timekeeper and his Order.
Borderlands 4 will be supported post-launch with a robust roadmap of free and paid content. Paid downloadable content (DLC) includes two Story Packs—each introducing a new Vault Hunter, new storylines, side missions, and map regions—as well as four Bounty Packs featuring unique areas, missions, and bosses. The exact pricing of these DLC packs outside premium editions remains undisclosed.
Regarding editions, Borderlands 4 offers three tiers. The Standard Edition, priced at $69.99, includes the base game. The Deluxe Edition costs $99.99 and includes the Bounty Pack Bundle, which consists of four separate post-launch DLC packs with new missions, bosses, vehicles, Vault Cards with challenges and rewards, Vault Hunter cosmetics, and the Firehawk’s Fury Weapon Skin.
The Super Deluxe Edition, retailing for $129.99, bundles all Deluxe Edition content plus the Vault Hunter Pack. This pack adds two Story Packs with new Vault Hunters, stories, side missions, two new map regions, new gear and weapons, additional Vault Hunter and ECHO-4 cosmetics, and the Ornate Order Pack featuring four Vault Hunter skins, heads, and bodies.
Additionally, all pre-orders come with the Gilded Glory Pack, which includes a Vault Hunter skin, a weapon skin, and an ECHO-4 drone skin. This bonus is available for any edition pre-ordered before launch.
Pre-ordering Borderlands 4 not only secures these bonuses but also sets players up to experience what many consider the boldest Borderlands yet. The game has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB and will be available to stream on NVIDIA GeForce NOW for PC players.
The pricing announcement was particularly notable given the broader industry context. Recent high-profile games like Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World and Xbox’s The Outer Worlds 2 have stirred debate by adopting $80 price tags, sparking concern among gamers about rising costs. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford himself sparked controversy in May 2025 when he responded to fan worries about an $80 price by saying, “If you were a real fan, you’d find a way to make it happen.” The backlash led Pitchford to issue a formal apology weeks later.
Ultimately, Borderlands 4’s Standard Edition price of $70 bucks is a relief to many fans, signaling that Gearbox and 2K may be aiming to balance quality with accessibility. Pitchford has acknowledged the challenging economics of the current market, noting at PAX East that game budgets have more than doubled since Borderlands 3, and that tariffs and other costs factor into pricing decisions.
Still, 2K appears to be adopting a flexible pricing strategy across its titles. For example, Mafia: The Old Country, launching in August 2025, is priced at $50 to reach a wider audience. Meanwhile, speculation continues about the pricing of upcoming blockbusters like GTA 6, expected in 2026, with some hoping it may push the $100 threshold.
For Borderlands fans, the wait is almost over. The game’s September 12 launch promises a fresh, expansive experience filled with the franchise’s signature humor, chaos, and loot. With multiple editions and a solid lineup of post-launch content, Borderlands 4 aims to satisfy both newcomers and die-hard Vault Hunters alike.
Looking ahead, a livestream set for June 21, 2025, will showcase a new story trailer and hands-on gameplay, offering fans a closer look at what’s in store.
Whether you’re gearing up to explore Kairos solo or with friends in co-op, Borderlands 4 looks set to reignite the franchise’s looter-shooter magic without breaking the bank.
