Borderlands 4 Unveils Enhanced Loot, Co-op Systems, and Compass Navigation at PAX East

Borderlands 4 showcased significant upgrades to its loot and co-op mechanics at PAX East 2025. Discover the revamped systems and the reasoning behind the game’s decision to replace the mini-map with a compass.

Borderlands 4 PAX East Panel

Revamped Loot and Co-op Systems

Gearbox Software, the developers behind Borderlands 4 (BL4), unveiled major enhancements to the game’s loot and co-op features during their PAX East 2025 presentation on May 10. CEO Randy Pitchford and the team detailed how these systems have evolved based on player feedback.

Drawing from insights gathered since Borderlands 3 (BL3), Gearbox has streamlined the co-op experience. Players can now seamlessly join or leave sessions without needing to reach specific checkpoints. The game also supports fast-travel to teammates’ locations, a necessity given BL4’s expansive world. Like its predecessor, BL4 includes a level-scaling system, ensuring players of different levels can play together while earning appropriately scaled loot from individual reward pools.

The loot system has been refined to reduce complexity, preventing players from feeling overwhelmed by item combinations. Legendary items will be less frequent but more impactful, enhancing their value. Specific drops from mini-bosses and major enemies will make victories more rewarding, while Moxxi’s Big Encore mode allows mission and boss replays, eliminating the need to reload saves for loot farming.

Why the Mini-Map Was Replaced

At PAX East 2025, fans questioned the absence of a mini-map in BL4’s vast world. Pitchford explained that the team opted for a compass-based navigation system to better suit the game’s scale and design. He emphasized that a mini-map struggles to convey objectives spread across a massive world, stating, “Our world is vast, and a compass helps you focus on distant goals and opportunities, keeping you engaged in the game rather than the map.”

Pitchford encouraged players to experience the game firsthand to appreciate the HUD choices, noting, “Once you see the scale of this world, you’ll understand why playing the game itself, guided by the compass, feels more immersive than navigating a map.”

Gearbox is confident in BL4’s direction as the September 12, 2025, launch approaches, bolstered by a recent State of Play showcase and an earlier-than-expected release by two weeks. The studio plans to reveal more at events like Fan Fest, Bilibili World, and Gamescom, offering deeper insights into what players can expect.

Borderlands 4 will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on September 12, 2025. Stay informed with the latest updates by checking out our article below!