It was the most annoying flaw in Borderlands 3, but it’s officially gone in the next game. Gearbox has reworked the loot system from top to bottom. The U.S. studio has slashed drop rates to restore meaning to every piece of gear.

Borderlands 4 took center stage during last night’s PlayStation State of Play. The 20-minute deep dive focused entirely on Gearbox’s long-awaited return to the looter shooter genre. And one thing was made perfectly clear: Borderlands 4 wants nothing to do with the loot chaos of its predecessor. The Texas-based developers acknowledged they dropped the ball in Borderlands 3 and made a promise to bring back the thrill of uncovering that one rare, game-changing weapon.

Gearbox wants to bring the “magic of good loot” back to Borderlands 4

Even though Borderlands 3 still enjoys an 84% rating on Steam, many fans felt let down by its overwhelming amount of legendary gear. What should’ve felt rare and powerful quickly became dull and disposable. Gearbox is determined not to repeat that mistake. They’ve completely adjusted drop rates and revamped how gear progression works in Borderlands 4 to recapture the value of every item.

“In Borderlands 3, Legendary weapons were dropping way too frequently,” admitted creative director Graeme Timmins. “That not only made those weapons feel worthless, but it took the excitement out of the whole loot chase.” The team now wants each drop to feel meaningful. Items won’t just look better—they’ll carry real gameplay weight. “We’ve worked hard to make all of our loot feel better than ever,” said Timmins.

“We’ve worked hard to make all of our loot feel better than ever”

Major innovations include five weapon slots, three new manufacturers, and a system called “Licensed Parts,” which lets players mix and match components from different brands into a single weapon. This adds an entirely new layer of customization and personal playstyle. Creativity is now core to the loot experience.

While Gearbox hasn’t detailed the in-game economy or whether player trading will return, they’ve made one thing clear: quality now trumps quantity. Borderlands 4 is building a system that rewards players with fewer, but far more impactful, drops. It’s a fresh approach meant to satisfy longtime fans and entice newcomers with meaningful progression and satisfying loot.

Source: 3djuegos