Borderlands 4 Launch Moved Up 11 Days: Impact on GTA 6 Release?

Gearbox's eagerly anticipated first-person shooter, Borderlands 4, is set to launch 11 days earlier than originally planned. This exciting news was shared by Gearbox's development chief, Randy Pitchford, in a video that was inadvertently released ahead of schedule.

Originally slated for release on September 23, Borderlands 4 will now hit the shelves on September 12, available across multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

In the video, Pitchford expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Everything is going great, actually. In fact, everything is going kind of the best-case scenario. The game is awesome, the team is cooking, and so the launch date for Borderlands 4 is changing. We’re moving it forward. The launch date is now September 12.”

He further exclaimed, “What?! This never happens you guys! This never happens! We’re moving the launch date forward! You’re gonna get Borderlands 4 earlier!”

Pitchford also mentioned that a PlayStation State of Play event focused on Borderlands 4 is expected to be released soon.

The decision to move up the release date has sparked speculation about its timing, particularly in relation to the looming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). GTA 6, developed by Rockstar Games and also published by Take-Two (Gearbox's parent company), is currently slated for a fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. There's a possibility that the earlier release of Borderlands 4 is strategically designed to avoid competition with GTA 6, providing Borderlands 4 with a more favorable launch window.

It's noteworthy that both Borderlands 4 and GTA 6 fall under the umbrella of Take-Two, which might influence high-level decisions about release schedules. Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, would be aware of the development status of all the company's games and could have decided to adjust Borderlands 4's release date to optimize its market performance.

With Borderlands 4 now set for September 12, it's likely that GTA 6 won't be released in the same month or August, leaving October, November, or December 2025 as potential launch dates. However, releasing Borderlands 4 and GTA 6 too close together could pose a risk of cannibalization, especially considering another 2K game, Mafia: The Old Country, is set to launch in the summer of 2025.

In a February interview, Zelnick addressed concerns about potential cannibalization, assuring that Take-Two plans its releases to avoid such risks. He emphasized the importance of respecting consumers' need to fully engage with one game before moving on to another, suggesting that the company aims to space out its big releases to maintain consumer interest and satisfaction.

Amidst this strategic planning, there remains the possibility that GTA 6 could be delayed, potentially into early winter or even the first quarter of 2026. Zelnick acknowledged the inherent risks of delays but expressed confidence in Rockstar's ability to meet the fall 2025 target for GTA 6.