Gearbox reveals major quality-of-life improvements and fan-requested features at PAX East and State of Play.
Borderlands 4 is shaping up to be the most refined entry in the franchise yet. Unveiled in greater detail during PAX East and a recent Borderlands-focused State of Play, the game introduces several sweeping changes that address long-standing community feedback.
One of the most talked-about improvements is the overhaul of the co-op experience. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford confirmed that the multiplayer lobby has been completely redesigned, streamlining party management and making drop-in co-op seamless. Players will no longer need to gather at a specific location to join a friend’s game—instead, they can now jump in at any time, regardless of where the host is in the world.
Split-screen multiplayer, a series staple, is also making a return for couch co-op fans. On top of that, a new “fast-travel to friends” feature will allow players who wander off the beaten path to instantly regroup with their party—an essential upgrade given the game’s large but structured world design.
Gearbox is also tackling loot mechanics head-on. The developers have confirmed that legendary drop rates will be lowered, and loot scaling has been adjusted to make high-tier items feel genuinely valuable again. Instanced loot—meaning each player sees their own gear drops—will also prevent gear sniping and better align with individual builds.
Another welcome change is the new handling of grenades and launchers. Instead of relying on limited ammo and occupying a weapon slot, these tools now operate on cooldowns, opening up more tactical flexibility in combat. Combined with new movement options and a reworked map interface, Borderlands 4 is making a concerted effort to modernize its core gameplay systems.
Level scaling is also being implemented to support mixed-experience parties, ensuring that teaming up with higher-level friends won’t overwhelm newer players. All these changes seem designed to support both hardcore fans and newcomers alike, offering a smoother, more balanced multiplayer experience.
With these enhancements, Borderlands 4 is set to deliver a more player-friendly and dynamic adventure when it launches this September.
