Instead of a Nintendo Switch 2 version, the game from Gearbox and Take-Two (2K) is set to launch with a content expansion.

As a malicious cosmic entity threatens Kairos and madness lingers in the frigid air, players join forces with Ellie, a plucky mechanic and the daughter of Moxxi, on a quest to destroy an alien monolith and enter the accursed Vault of the Damned. Guided by the peculiar proprietor Mancubus Bloodtooth, who returns in this installment, players will brave the icy wastes of the Whispering Glacier. This frozen expanse is littered with the husks of derelict ships and dark secrets. Fans of Borderlands will recognize familiar faces in Story Pack 1 and reconnect with oddballs like Mancubus, Pickle, and Crazy Earl. However, this self-contained story doesn’t require prior knowledge, so Vault Hunters of any level can jump right in. The Whispering Glacier is packed with new story missions, side missions, activities, and collectibles. Later in the game, players can destroy enormous growths of pulsating flesh to unlock new areas, loot, and puzzles. An all-new World Boss mechanic transports players who commune with eldritch trees to a nightmarish dimension where a random boss awaits.

To access the Whispering Glacier region, players must own Story Pack 1 and complete the “A Lot to Process” mission in the Fadefields. This mission is recommended for Vault Hunters level 13 and up. Additionally, players can create a new Vault Hunter who will skip directly to the Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned content at level 13. Alongside the release of Story Pack 1, Borderlands 4 will release a major update that introduces shared character progression. This update will allow new characters on the same account to access map progression, SDU tokens, Hover Drives, cosmetic rewards, and activity progression. Note: In new playthroughs, some fast-travel locations are locked behind campaign progression. The team continues to work on cross-platform saves for a later update.

Players can set off across the icy wastes as C4SH the Rogue, the first of two new Vault Hunters coming to Borderlands 4. C4SH is a CasinoBot with a new lease on life. After winning a high-stakes card game, he gained a magical deck that imbues him with eldritch boons. For most people, this would be a cursed trophy, but for a robot who has been able to game the solar system’s casinos and battlefields with statistical knowledge, it is a chance to finally experience unpredictability. For the first time, he feels human. This drives him to take risks, bet on himself, and play nothing safe.

C4SH embodies the spirit of a devil-may-care gambler, bending luck in your favor to swiftly defeat enemies. One of C4SH’s unique Action Skills is Sleight of Hand, which allows him to draw cards from his randomized deck and throw them to unleash powerful spells. Like the other Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4, C4SH has three unique Action Skills to choose from and can enhance his abilities via three branching skill trees full of powerful Passives and Augments.

Story Pack 1 introduces new challenges across The Whispering Glacier, including two major boss fights and sixteen minibosses. Players will need to carve their path through hordes of tough enemies, such as the grizzled DAHL Legion soldiers who abandoned their posts on Elpis to wreak havoc on Kairos and the fierce Kraggons and Scavs. Players can look forward to plenty of rewards for their efforts. Story Pack 1 features three new Pearlescent weapons and 11 new pieces of Legendary gear, including two grenades, two heavy weapons, two shields, and five class mods. This allows players to create even more novel and powerful Vault Hunter builds.

Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned contain a total of 28 new cosmetic items, including two Vault Hunter heads and four Vault Hunter skins usable by all Vault Hunters; one alternate Vault Hunter body and eight Vault Hunter heads usable by C4SH; four weapon skins; four vehicle skins; three ECHO-4 drone skins and attachments; and one ECHO-4 frame.

Players will have access to new challenging endgame content every month until summer, including a raid boss in April and a takedown in May. Bounty Packs 3, 4, and 5 will be released throughout Q2 and Q3 of 2026. These packs feature a Vault Card full of new cosmetics and gear that players can unlock through gameplay. They also include new narrative mission content that delves deeper into the lives of Kairos’s memorable characters. Story Pack 2 will arrive in Q3 2026 and will include another brand-new Vault Hunter, multiple main and side missions set in a new Kairos zone, new gear to earn, and new cosmetics.

Borderlands 4 Story Pack 1: Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned will be released on March 26 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.

Source: Gematsu