Borderlands 4 is officially dropping this September. The release is happening sooner than expected, and we’ve got the full breakdown of platforms, start times, and what it means for your preload plans.

Launch Dates by Platform

Borderlands 4 launches on September 12, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. On PC, it’ll be available through Steam and the Epic Games Store. For Switch players, there’s a short wait. The Nintendo Switch 2 version arrives on October 3, 2025. Gearbox says they’re taking extra time to ensure smooth performance on Nintendo’s latest handheld, which makes sense given the hardware differences.

No Support for Last Gen Consoles

This time, there’s no fallback. Borderlands 4 won’t be released on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Gearbox is going fully current gen. That decision lets them double down on performance, including faster load times, better visuals, and more detailed environments. If you’re still on old hardware, this is the clearest push yet to consider upgrading.

Start Times and Time Zone Details

Official global start times haven’t been fully confirmed, but PlayStation Store listings suggest a regional midnight launch. That means the game unlocks at 12:00 AM in your local time zone. If you’re in the U.S., that could mean starting at 9 PM Pacific on September 11.

Some Xbox players are hoping for a trick: using time zone switching to start playing early. That method isn’t confirmed to work, but if it does, a head start might be possible depending on where you set your console.

Expected Start Times by Region

  • Pacific Time: 9:00 PM September 11
  • Central Time: 11:00 PM September 11
  • Eastern Time: 12:00 AM September 12
  • British Summer Time: 12:00 AM September 12
  • Australian Eastern Standard Time: 12:00 AM September 12

These times could shift slightly, but they’re a useful reference if you’re planning to book time off or stay up late.

Early Impressions and Scale

At Gamescom, early access players came away impressed. The game’s scale, weapon variety, and polish stood out. Gearbox says it includes 30 billion guns, keeping the franchise’s identity focused on loot-heavy action. It’s been six years since Borderlands 3, and fans seem more than ready for a proper follow-up.

Strategy and Sales Goals

Advancing a release date is a rare move. Most studios delay. Gearbox and 2K clearly believe the game is in strong shape and ready for launch. It’s a bold choice, and one that puts pressure on the final product to deliver at a high level.

Pitchford has gone further, stating he believes Borderlands 4 could sell over 100 million units. That’s ambitious, even for a franchise with this kind of track record. But it shows the scale of their expectations.

A Legacy That Still Matters

Borderlands helped define the looter shooter genre. For over a decade, it’s stood out for its character-focused stories, nonstop weapon drops, and loud, unapologetic style. Borderlands 4 doesn’t aim to reinvent that formula. It builds on what worked, improves performance, and brings a fresh story set on a new planet.

The wait’s nearly over. Preload if you can, check your region’s unlock time, and get ready for impact on September 12. Or October 3 if you’re playing on Switch 2.