Gearbox Software has provided an extensive look at what lies ahead for Borderlands 4 during its recent PAX Australia presentation. Founder Randy Pitchford, alongside narrative director Sam Winkler and lead gear designer Andru Lynch, unveiled a wide range of post-launch plans that promise to keep players engaged long after release. From new story missions and seasonal events to additional gear and technical features, the studio emphasized that this is only the beginning of its long-term support for the looter-shooter.
The team first confirmed that the inaugural Bounty Pack expansion, titled How Rush Saved Mercenary Day, will arrive on November 20, 2025. This story-driven DLC focuses on the character Rush, who attempts to recreate a beloved holiday celebration on the planet Chyros. However, his efforts are met with resistance from Minister Screw, an antagonist described by Winkler as someone who “doesn’t like holidays, doesn’t like joy, doesn’t like presents, and doesn’t like you being alive.” Pitchford noted that the studio has grown increasingly efficient at developing new content, describing the post-launch process as “a joy” thanks to the mature systems built during Borderlands 4’s development.
Following the DLC, players can look forward to the Horrors of Chyros seasonal event, which will run from October 23 to November 6. This limited-time event embraces a macabre theme, introducing eerie weather effects, unique loot, and festive cosmetics. “Our first seasonal event, Horrors of Chyros, is coming up later this month,” Lynch explained. “All of our world bosses will feature spooky variants and drop limited-time, event-specific loot.” Pitchford added that the new dynamic weather system will even allow “rain of blood” during certain encounters, emphasizing the event’s dark tone.
Endgame players can also prepare for the return of invincible bosses. Winkler described these as “the baddest of the bad,” designed to challenge even those at level cap. The first of these, Bloom Reaper the Invincible, will debut as part of the upcoming update. “It’s an apex predator that will turn carnivores into vegetarians,” joked Lynch, noting that the boss resides in a new mountainous region of Chyros where players will grapple and glide across perilous terrain to survive. Defeating Bloom Reaper will reward players with several exclusive items, including a weapon called Mantra, a melee-themed gun that “shoots fists.”
In addition to new content, Gearbox confirmed several highly requested features and quality-of-life improvements. Pitchford officially announced that both Photo Mode and Cross-Save functionality are in development. “We heard from some of you saying bring back Photo Mode — we really love it,” he said. “And you know what? It’s coming.” He further confirmed that players will soon be able to carry their progress across different platforms: “We’ve never supported cross-save before, but we’re bringing it to Borderlands 4.”
Gearbox is also working on optimizing performance for all platforms, particularly PC. Pitchford stated that the studio aims to simplify graphical customization by allowing players to “flip switches” that automatically prioritize frame rate or visual fidelity. “We’ve already delivered a lot of performance upgrades, and we’ve got more coming,” he assured. Other confirmed improvements include a field-of-view slider on consoles and enhanced performance presets designed to maximize frame rate without manual tweaking.
Narrative director Sam Winkler also provided hints about future expansions, confirming that upcoming bounty packs will revisit familiar NPCs, including the fan-favorite Defiant Calder. “There are a lot of secrets under the mountain,” Winkler teased, implying further story developments set on Chyros. He also discussed his writing process, noting that he keeps “a notes app of things a Psycho would say” and jokingly referenced one of his earliest lines: “I’ve got a new flavor and it’s you, Mommy.”
From the gameplay side, Lynch revealed a selection of upcoming weapons, including Missile Laser, a gun with dual modes that fires both homing rockets and laser beams, and Asher’s Rise, a Maliwan sniper rifle named after his dog. He also teased upcoming additions such as a grenade launcher and the return of classic Pre-Sequel weapons. “We’re looking at gaps in our arsenal,” he explained. “We don’t have a grenade launcher right now — we’re adding one as a Legendary for Bounty Pack 2.” Lynch confirmed that Pearlescent weapons are also set to make a return, alongside a new talking gun voiced by Crazy Earl.
As the panel concluded, Pitchford expressed his gratitude to the community. “I’m so grateful that you guys are here,” he said. “You care about the work we do, and we exist for you. Our lives are dedicated to creating joy and happiness for gamers.”
With How Rush Saved Mercenary Day arriving in November and Horrors of Chyros kicking off later this month, Borderlands 4 is poised to enter a busy post-launch period. Between challenging new bosses, fan-favorite characters, and fresh loot to chase, Gearbox’s roadmap ensures there will be plenty for Vault Hunters to explore well into 2026.
