In a move that has caught the attention of gamers and industry observers alike, publisher 2K has announced that Borderlands 4 is now available to pre-order with a price point that undercuts expectations set by the $80 price tag of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s expanded edition, as detailed in a blog post from the publisher. The pricing decision follows months of speculation, sparked by Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford’s comments on rising game development budgets and potential cost increases
The Standard Edition of Borderlands 4 will retail at $70, aligning with current industry standards while avoiding the $80 price tag some feared after Pitchford’s earlier remarks. The Deluxe Edition, priced higher, includes the Bounty Pack Bundle, offering four post-launch content drops with new areas, missions, and bosses. The Super Deluxe Edition, the most comprehensive package, encompasses all Deluxe content plus the Vault Hunter Pack, introducing two new playable Vault Hunters, additional story and side missions, new map regions, and exclusive cosmetics. All editions include the Gilded Glory Pack as a pre-order bonus, featuring a Vault Hunter skin, a weapon skin, and an ECHO-4 Drone skin.
Pitchford’s earlier statements had stirred debate about the game’s potential cost. Addressing pricing dynamics, he noted, "On one level, we've got a competitive marketplace where people who make [pricing] choices want to sell as many units as possible and they want to be careful about people that are price-sensitive," he said. "So there are some folks who don't want to see prices go up, even the ones deciding what the prices are. There are other folks accepting the reality that game budgets are increasing and there are tariffs for the retail packaging." His comments reflect the delicate balance publishers face between accessibility and the escalating costs of AAA game development.
Borderlands 4 promises to be the boldest entry in the franchise, introducing players to the sprawling planet of Kairos. Four new Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities, will navigate a world teeming with billions of weapons and enhanced movement mechanics. The game’s post-launch roadmap is equally ambitious, with free updates like Vault Cards—similar to those in Borderlands 3—offering loot and XP through challenges. The Bounty Pack Bundle and Vault Hunter Pack will expand the game with new stories, characters, and regions, ensuring long-term engagement.
The announcement also confirms Borderlands 4 will leverage Unreal Engine 5, delivering cutting-edge visuals and performance. PC players will need at least an Intel Core i7-9700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, 16GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT to meet the game’s requirements. Notably, the game will use Denuvo anti-tamper technology at launch, though 2K has a history of removing it post-release, as seen with Borderlands 3. Additionally, Borderlands 4 will be playable on NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and a Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for a vaguer 2025 release window.
As a bonus for fans, 2K announced that Borderlands Fan Fest will take place on June 21, 2025, showcasing new gameplay and a story-focused trailer. Players can wishlist the game on the official website of Borderlands. With its competitive pricing and robust content plans, Borderlands 4 is poised to reclaim the franchise’s spotlight, delivering the chaotic, loot-driven experience that has defined the series for over a decade.
Borderlands 4 is slated for release on September 12, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also in development, expected to launch later in 2025, though a specific date has not been confirmed. This multi-platform rollout ensures that players across a wide range of systems can dive into the chaotic, loot-filled adventure on Kairos.
You can watch the official trailer for Borderlands 4 below:
