In a recent interview, Borderlands 4’s lead character designer Nick Thurston revealed that the upcoming looter-shooter has drawn surprising inspiration from Baldur’s Gate 3. While the two games belong to very different genres, the team at Gearbox believes some of the design philosophies from Larian’s acclaimed RPG can carry over to Pandora.
Borderlands 4 is the next chapter in Gearbox’s long-running franchise and will introduce an entirely new group of Vault Hunters. Over the last several months, fans have been given steady glimpses into the new lineup of characters and their abilities. But in a fresh conversation with Polygon, Thurston offered a deeper look at the philosophy behind the game’s character builds.
A New Focus on Build Variety
According to Thurston, one of the main goals for Borderlands 4 is to ensure that every character can be played in multiple unique ways, making each playthrough feel different. He cited Baldur’s Gate 3 and Path of Exile as inspirations, saying:
“When I play an RPG, I want to reach the endgame and do absurd amounts of damage, but I also want to do it in my own way. In past Borderlands games, some characters felt locked into a single style of play. With Borderlands 4, we wanted to give players the freedom to experiment—so even if two people pick the same character, their builds can look and feel completely different.”
This approach aims to make co-op sessions more diverse. In previous games, choosing the same character often meant having nearly identical roles in combat. Now, the goal is for multiple players to pick the same Vault Hunter but still bring unique strengths and strategies to the table.
The Road to Release
With Borderlands 4 launching on September 12 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S—and hitting the Nintendo Switch 2 in October—the wait is almost over. The focus on build diversity could make this entry the most replayable Borderlands game to date, appealing to both hardcore min-maxers and casual fans alike.
As Gearbox continues to drip-feed information, fans are eager to see what other surprises remain hidden before launch. If this design philosophy lands as intended, Borderlands 4 could stand out not just for its trademark humor and loot, but also for its deep character customization inspired by RPG heavyweights.
