Borderlands 4: Gameplay and Co-op Details at PAX East

At PAX East 2025, the developers of Borderlands 4 discussed significant upgrades to its loot system and co-op gameplay. Continue reading to explore the key changes to these features and the reasoning behind the removal of the mini-map.

Borderlands 4 PAX East Panel Insights

Revamped Loot and Co-op Systems

Gearbox Software, the studio behind Borderlands 4 (BL4), showcased extensive enhancements to the game’s loot mechanics and co-op functionality. During the PAX East 2025 event on May 10, CEO Randy Pitchford and team members detailed the evolution of both systems.

Responding to player input since Borderlands 3 (BL3), the team integrated community suggestions to refine BL4. The co-op lobby system has been streamlined for seamless connectivity, enabling players to join or leave sessions freely without having to reach specific story checkpoints to team up.

Additionally, fast-travel now instantly transports players to their friends’ locations—a welcome feature given BL4’s expansive environments. Similar to BL3, dynamic level scaling ensures balanced gameplay across lobbies, with individual loot pools so each player receives personalized rewards.

On the loot front, BL4 simplifies complexity scaling to prevent players from feeling overwhelmed by excessive gear combinations. While legendary items will be rarer, they will also feel more impactful and unique.

Not all loot is randomized: specific mini-boss and major enemy encounters guarantee targeted drops, making victories more rewarding. Players can continue to revisit missions and bosses in Moxxi’s Big Encore mode, eliminating the need to reload saves for loot farming.

Why the Mini-Map Was Removed

During the PAX East panel, fans questioned the absence of a mini-map, especially given BL4’s vast world. Pitchford encouraged players to experience the game firsthand to appreciate the HUD design decisions.

He explained, "We’ve built an enormous world. While many activities happen locally, your goals and opportunities often span great distances. A local mini-map isn’t effective for navigating multiple objectives miles apart—this is where the compass truly shines."

Pitchford emphasized that the new compass system supports exploration without diverting attention to map management. He added, "Play the game first. Once you grasp the scale of this world, you’ll understand why experiencing the environment directly beats staring at a mini-map."

Gearbox is confident as development progresses toward launch. Following the Borderlands 4 State of Play and the announcement of an earlier release date, the studio plans to host more events—including Fan Fest, Bilibili World, and Gamescom—to unveil further surprises.

Borderlands 4 arrives on September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. For the latest updates, check out our coverage below!