After a dedicated State of Play, Borderlands 4 stood out again at PAX East 2025 with a panel packed with new information. We learned, in particular, that the co-op system in this fourth installment will be largely redesigned compared to previous installments. But one key element of the franchise was conspicuous by its absence, and Gearbox offered an explanation on this subject during PAX East.
A mini justification by Gearbox vis-à-vis Borderlands 4
According to Gearbox, Borderlands 4 will be "the most immense and ambitious game in the entire franchise," and will have us exploring the vast planet of Kairos in depth. To achieve this, Vault Hunters will have many ways to move, such as grappling hooks, the ability to glide through the air, slide on the ground, and even swim. This fourth installment is said to be so huge that the studio has chosen not to integrate a mini-map into the HUD, which displeased many players.
Gearbox, and more specifically its boss Randy Pitchford, took advantage of the panel dedicated to Borderlands 4 during PAX East 2025 to justify this decision. "It's the biggest universe we've ever built, by far, and without any transitions or loading times between each area of the map. You're going to have more verticality than in any other game in the franchise. A mini-map risks sowing more confusion than anything else, because it wouldn't be able to faithfully display a map that is no longer just two-dimensional." Another justification would be that "you'll have a ton of different objectives and missions, sometimes several at once. You're here to play Borderlands 4, not spend your time looking at a mini-map."
Instead, the studio felt that a compass would work better than a mini-map to orient players. The large map will also be included, as well as a new companion, Echobot, who will have several features to help Vault Hunters find their way. Randy Picthford, however, hasn't totally ruled out the possibility of a mini-map being added later in Borderlands 4. When it releases on September 12th for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series, it will be a thing of the past.
Source: Gearbox on YouTube
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