"We're Shipping Early": Borderlands 4 Moves Up Release to September 12

In a rare twist for the gaming industry, Gearbox Entertainment has announced that Borderlands 4 will release ahead of schedule, now launching on September 12, 2025—a full 11 days earlier than its originally planned September 23 debut.

The news came straight from Gearbox President and CEO Randy Pitchford, who shared the update on X (formerly Twitter) on April 29. And in classic Pitchford fashion, he later made it clear this wasn’t about dodging competition—it’s about confidence.

“Borderlands 4 shipping early is 100% the result of confidence in the game and development trajectory backed by actual tasks and bug find/fix rates,” Pitchford wrote. “This decision has nothing to do with any other product’s actual or theoretical launch date.”

For Borderlands fans, this is a welcome surprise. It's not every day a high-profile release moves forward—especially in an era defined by last-minute delays.

But not everyone’s buying the official story.

GTA 6 in the Rearview?

With Grand Theft Auto 6 looming on the 2025 calendar, speculation is swirling. Both Gearbox and Rockstar Games are owned by Take-Two Interactive, and GTA 6 is widely expected to dominate the gaming landscape when it arrives later in the year. Some fans and analysts believe the early launch of Borderlands 4 might be a strategic move to clear space before the chaos of GTA season begins.

While Pitchford has downplayed any such connection, the timing is raising eyebrows. After all, studios routinely adjust release dates to avoid cannibalizing attention—or sales.

Pitchford, known for his blunt style and occasional Twitter spats, has previously butted heads with critics. Recently, he was involved in a heated back-and-forth with reviewers like PC Gamer, which makes his current firm stance on the release date all the more notable.

What to Expect in Borderlands 4

Officially revealed during Sony’s February 2025 State of Play, Borderlands 4 promises more absurd weapons, more chaotic action, and that signature irreverent humor.

Earlier rumors hinted at a potential scaling back of the franchise’s infamous toilet humor, but current trailers and promos suggest that Borderlands 4 is staying true to its roots—just with a fresh coat of polish.

With development apparently ahead of schedule and excitement continuing to build, the earlier launch date may end up working in everyone’s favor—especially for players trying to squeeze in one epic adventure before Rockstar’s open-world juggernaut inevitably takes over.