Gearbox Software just dropped a major bombshell about Borderlands 4, and it’s causing waves across the gaming community. In a recent statement, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford revealed that Borderlands 4 had more than double the development budget of Borderlands 3 — a huge investment that signals some serious ambition behind the upcoming looter-shooter.

What Does Twice The Budget Mean?

Borderlands 3 launched in 2019 with a pretty solid budget for a looter-shooter at the time, but doubling that for the sequel is no small feat. While exact numbers haven’t been disclosed, industry insiders estimate that Borderlands 3’s budget was around $140 million, which would mean Borderlands 4 could be looking at north of $280 million or more. That’s on par with some of the biggest AAA games of the last few years.

This massive boost in funding likely means Gearbox is aiming for major improvements in nearly every aspect of the game — from graphics and world-building to story depth, multiplayer features, and even possibly expanding the game’s scale. Fans can expect a much richer experience with the new title, potentially pushing the boundaries of what the franchise has done before.

Why The Budget Spike?

Pitchford addressed this budget increase at PAX East 2025, explaining that development costs have skyrocketed industry-wide due to several factors, including inflation, rising production costs, and more complex game development pipelines. He also cited rising tariffs on retail packaging, which are forcing publishers to reconsider pricing models.

In fact, Pitchford hinted that Borderlands 4 might launch with an $80 price tag — matching recent moves by Nintendo and Microsoft to raise game prices in response to these escalating costs. This price adjustment, while controversial, reflects a broader shift in the AAA gaming market as studios grapple with ballooning budgets.

What Fans Can Expect From Borderlands 4

The title is scheduled to release on September 12, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Based on Gearbox’s commitment to doubling down on development resources, here are a few educated guesses on what we might see:

• Next-Level Visuals: Leveraging the power of new-gen consoles, expect a more immersive, detailed world with better lighting, particle effects, and character models.
• Expanded Storytelling: Gearbox has hinted at a deeper narrative experience with more complex characters and branching storylines, which could be a big shift from the more straightforward storytelling of previous entries.
• Robust Multiplayer & Endgame: Borderlands has always thrived on co-op, and with more budget, Gearbox could deliver new multiplayer modes, larger player counts, or innovative endgame content.
• More Customization & Loot Variety: Gearbox is famous for insane gun variety and character customization — expect this to be amped up significantly.

The Risk and the Reward

Doubling a game’s development budget is a bold move, especially in today’s volatile market. It raises the stakes not just for Gearbox, but for the Borderlands franchise as a whole. Fans are excited but also cautious — after all, a bigger budget doesn’t guarantee a better game. However, if Gearbox delivers on this promise, Borderlands 4 could be one of the biggest, most ambitious shooters of the year.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on pre-orders and pricing as those details emerge, but one thing is clear: Gearbox is betting big on Borderlands 4, and the studio is signaling this game is going to be a massive leap forward.