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

Gearbox's highly anticipated first-person shooter, *Borderlands 4*, is set to launch earlier than originally planned, as announced by development chief Randy Pitchford in a video that was inadvertently released early. Initially slated for release on September 23, *Borderlands 4* will now hit the shelves on September 12, available across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

In the revealing video, Pitchford expressed enthusiasm about the project's progress, 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." His excitement was palpable as he 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 teased that a PlayStation State of Play event, dedicated to showcasing *Borderlands 4*, is on the horizon and will be available soon.

The decision to move the release date of *Borderlands 4* forward has sparked speculation about its timing in relation to the impending release of *Grand Theft Auto 6* (GTA 6). GTA 6, developed by Rockstar Games and also published by Take-Two (which owns 2K Games), is currently slated for a fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. This vague release window has led to questions about whether *Borderlands 4*'s new date is intended to give it more space to shine before GTA 6 potentially dominates the market.

Given that both *Borderlands 4* and GTA 6 fall under the Take-Two umbrella, it's plausible that strategic decisions at the executive level, including input from CEO Strauss Zelnick, could be influencing the timing to ensure both titles have the best chance at success. The possibility that GTA 6's release date has become more defined recently might have prompted the decision to advance *Borderlands 4*'s launch.

With *Borderlands 4* set for September 12, speculation about GTA 6's release narrows down, potentially ruling out August and September. October, November, or December 2025 remain open possibilities for GTA 6. However, there's a risk of cannibalization if Take-Two's major titles, including *Mafia: The Old Country* slated for summer 2025, are released too closely together.

In an interview with IGN in February, Strauss Zelnick addressed concerns about the timing of Take-Two's game releases. He emphasized that the company aims to schedule its releases to avoid cannibalization, respecting the time consumers need to fully engage with each title before moving on to another. Zelnick noted, "No, I think we will plan the releases so as not to have that be a problem... And what we found is when you're giving consumers hits, they tend to be interested in pursuing other hits."

Amidst these strategic considerations, there's also the possibility that GTA 6 might face delays, potentially pushing its release into early winter or the first quarter of 2026. Zelnick acknowledged the inherent risks of project delays but expressed confidence in Rockstar's ability to meet the fall 2025 target for GTA 6, while remaining cautious about making absolute promises.