Rumor: Borderlands 4 Release Date Could Be Sooner Than Expected

A recently surfaced rumor about Borderlands 4’s development cycle suggests the game could be releasing sooner than fans had expected.

New information surfacing about Borderlands 4 suggests the highly anticipated looter-shooter sequel could be releasing sooner than fans had initially expected. The run-and-gun shooter franchise from Gearbox Software and 2K Sports achieved widespread popularity for its wacky comedy, tight controls, and the plethora of weapons players can acquire within the games. The franchise’s most recent entry, Borderlands 3, was also confirmed to be making its way to Nintendo Switch early next month. Now, a recent discovery may suggest Borderlands 4 is on its way sooner rather than later.

The Borderlands franchise has been no stranger to significant gaps between its major numbered entries. While Borderlands only saw a three-year divide between the original game and Borderlands 2, the jump from the second to third games was much longer with Borderlands 3 launching seven years after the release of the second. The franchise would also release multiple spinoffs during that stretch, including Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Tales from the Borderlands with developer Telltale Games. Now, a developer’s LinkedIn page may give a hint about the next game’s release window.

A discovery from the LinkedIn page for a member of the Borderlands 4 team suggests the upcoming sequel has actually been in development for a significant stretch. The page for Environment Artist Nicolas Rudowski suggests Borderlands 4 has been in development for nearly two years, reportedly starting on the game in November 2021. The listing suggests Borderlands 4 could see a potential release earlier than many fans’ initial expected release window of 2026, having already been in development for two years. Gearbox Software has yet to reveal any official information about the next Borderlands game, and fans should keep in mind that it’s possible this LinkedIn information is inaccurate.

Though Gearbox has been tight-lipped about Borderlands 4, the franchise has not slowed down with the wait for its next entry. Last year saw the release of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, a fantasy tabletop RPG-inspired spinoff of the franchise focused on popular character Tiny Tina. Gearbox would also debut the “Pandora’s Box” collection for the franchise earlier this month as a massive compilation of nearly every Borderlands game. Borderlands 3 even joined in the festivities of the compilation’s release, receiving an update adding new Vault Hunter heads, skins, and plenty more.

While fans wait for more news about Borderlands 4, the franchise already has another major project in the works for next year. Lionsgate’s film adaptation of the Borderlands franchise is expected to debut next summer with Kevin Hart and Jack Black as prominent names in the main cast among others. The film is set to be an alternate re-telling of the first Borderlands game, featuring the original group of Vault Hunters as its leads. Borderlands 4‘s potential earlier release window and the Borderlands movie should spell an exciting time to come for fans of the franchise.

Borderlands 4 is rumored to be in development.