Borderlands 4 is just weeks away, launching September 12, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with a Nintendo Switch 2 release following on October 3. But Gearbox is not stopping at launch! They have just revealed a full post-launch roadmap going over free and paid content that will keep us looting and shooting well into 2026.
Here is everything you need to know.
Paid Content
A few additional paid content are planned, including two major DLC expansions, starting Q1 2026. Each Story Pack includes:
- A new Vault Hunter (with 3 Action Skills + unique skill trees).
- Multiple main missions and side missions set in a new zone of Kairos.
- Cosmetics including:
- 2 Vault Hunter Heads usable by all Vault Hunters
- 2 Vault Hunter Heads for the new Vault Hunter
- 4 Vault Hunter Skins usable by all Vault Hunters
- 4 Weapon Skins
- 2 Vehicle Paintjobs
- 3 ECHO-4 Drone Skin & Attachments
- 1 ECHO-4 Frame
So far, they only shared information about the first Story Pack:
- Includes Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned.
- This is a cosmic horror-inspired adventure starring Ellie.
- More details coming at TGS 2025.
- Included in the Super Deluxe Edition, or available separately.
On top of the two big Story Packs, we will also be able to obtain a few Bounty Packs:
- Bite-sized narrative content with new missions, bosses, and gear.
- Each Bounty Pack includes:
- New Main Missions and Boss.
- A Legendary Gear drop.
- Vault Card (24 cosmetics + 4 pieces of re-rollable gear).
- Vault Hunter Skin, ECHO-4 Drone Skin, and new Digirunner Vehicle.
- First Bounty Pack focuses on Rush, leader of the Outbounders in the Fadefields.
- Four total, included in Deluxe and Super Deluxe Editions or sold individually.
Free Content
If you just buy the base game, and you do not plan on getting any additional DLC, do not worry, free content is planned as well!
- Invincible Bosses (Q4 2025)
- Super-tough boss fights in new arenas, designed to test endgame builds. Huge health pools, lethal damage, unique mechanics, and the best loot in the game.
- Weekly Activities
- Big Encore Boss: Fight tougher versions of bosses via Moxxi’s machine for extra loot.
- Wildcard Missions: Community-wide weekly missions with guaranteed Legendary drops.
- Maurice’s Black Market: Weekly rotating loot machine hidden on Kairos, unique for every player.
- Pearlescent Gear (Q1 2026)
- The ultra-rare loot tier returns, added for free alongside Bounty Pack 2.
- Seasonal Mini-Events
- Limited-time events with unique loot and gameplay changes. The first, Horrors of Kairos, launches October 2025 with spooky weather, new cosmetics, and Legendaries.
- Endgame Expansions
- Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode returns with scaling difficulty and better loot rolls.
- More endgame activities will be detailed soon.
Borderlands 4 is going to be one of the biggest entries in the franchise yet. With new Vault Hunters coming post-launch, free endgame updates, and the return of Pearlescent gear, we will have all the good reasons to keep exploring Kairos long after launch.
Gearbox will share more about the first Story Pack’s Vault Hunter at Tokyo Game Show 2025 later in September, so keep an eye on our latest news!