With only a few weeks left until Borderlands 4's launch on September 12, 2025, it won't be long until you're wreaking havoc across Kairos as a badass Vault Hunter breaking free from the Timekeeper's control. When the day arrives, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players will be able to team up with their fellow Vault Hunters in two-player splitscreen co-op! In the video above, you can watch the reveal of splitscreen co-op gameplay in Borderlands 4!
Splitscreen couch co-op has always been an important part of the Borderlands experience. The series' looter shooter gameplay is a blast while playing solo, but for many of us, the fun increases exponentially when you're playing alongside a friend or loved one. So many players have bonded over the shared experiences that define two-player splitscreen, from finally taking down a difficult boss, to getting an awesome Legendary loot drop, or even just cracking up at something a Vault Hunter said during a firefight.
Multiplayer has been a core strength of the Borderlands series since the beginning, whether online or splitscreen—which is why Borderlands 4 is designed for co-op from the ground up. The game will have full crossplay support at launch so you can play with friends wherever they are, with drop-in/drop-out action for up to four players online.* That includes the ability to play splitscreen locally while you join up with two other players online—you can even get two splitscreen duos linked up to form a full party of four!
It'll also be easier than ever to jump into some co-op looter shooter action, from the streamlined lobby system down to the game mechanics themselves. Dynamic level scaling ensures that everyone can contribute to the carnage, so you can always play together regardless of differences between your Vault Hunters' levels or loadouts. That same philosophy applies to the individual difficulty settings. You and your buddies can each tune the encounters to feel as tough or forgiving as you personally like.
You'll also have the option to Fast Travel directly to other players, which can be extremely helpful when navigating Borderlands 4's huge, seamless world. The regions of the dangerous new planet Kairos interconnect to create the biggest expanse ever in a Borderlands game, and you might end up exploring in a totally different direction than your co-op party. The fact that you can cruise around on your personalized Digirunner vehicle at any time, along with the new layer of verticality in the environments, makes it so that you might inadvertently put a lot of distance between you and your squad. With party-based Fast Travel, you can almost instantly join back up after a joyride in the opposite direction or a flubbed jump off the side of a cliff.
Borderlands 4 also makes for an awesome hangout game no matter how much time you have for a given play session. You're free to explore as you see fit, and Kairos has engaging Points of Interest to discover in all directions. Shorter co-op sessions are great for claiming Points of Interest in the name of the Crimson Resistance, including safe houses that unlock new Fast Travel spots or silos with decommissioned Order communications balloons that let you take to the sky, scope out your next target, and aid your search for elusive Vault Key Fragments. Or, if you're in it for the long haul, you and your party can endeavor to take back entire regions from the Timekeeper's oppressive grip, clearing out anyone (or anything) foolish enough to get in your way.
There's also a Vault-load of character customization options to unlock, because part of the co-op fun is showing off your sense of style to fellow Vault Hunters. You'll be able to spend hours tinkering with combinations of Vault Hunter Heads and Skins to impress your pals, and it'll be just as fun to see what new outfits they've cooked up for your latest play session.
With September 12, 2025 approaching faster than a hungry skag, it won't be much longer before you (and your co-op squad) can start taking down the Timekeeper's Order. In the meantime, check out the Vex Vault Hunter, Rafa Vault Hunter, and Amon Vault Hunter pages to learn all about their Action Skills and skill trees, and watch for the Harlowe Vault Hunter pages coming soon. You can pre-order Borderlands 4 Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition, or Super Deluxe Edition now on your platform of choice, with the latter two including post-launch content. See you on Kairos, Vault Hunter!
*Online play requires Internet connection, and cross-play requires SHiFT Account. Console online play requires separate paid subscription. Terms apply.
