Borderlands lands Oct. 20

2K Games confirms hard launch date for Gearbox's cel-shaded "role-playing shooter" in North America; game will ship in UK, EU, and AU on October 23; new trailer inside.

At last month's Electronic Entertainment Expo, Gearbox Software revealed that its eagerly anticipated "role-playing shooter" Borderlands would ship in October. Now, with retail lines being drawn in the holiday-quarter sand, 2K Games has locked down the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 title's exact launch date: October 20 in North America and October 23 in the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, and other territories.

"You have 500,000 guns in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

In an interview with GameSpot, 2K Games president Christoph Hartmann said his company is unfazed by the prospect of launching an untested IP within weeks of high-profile sequels like Uncharted 2, due October 13.

"I don't think we have to be afraid of competition or shy of what's out there," said Hartmann, confidently. "I think this holiday season is a little bit lighter in triple-A games than last year. It's actually a good holiday to put something out. ... There's always risk and opportunity. The risk is you have a hard time standing out against established IP. The opportunity is you have a lot of traffic here and it can be a much bigger product at retail than it would be otherwise."

The finalization of Borderlands' release date marks the end of the vehicle-centric, sci-fi action-RPG's windy road to release. Announced in summer 2007 as "Mad Max meets Diablo," the game was touted as having the most unique weapons ever--more than 500,000 randomly generated guns scattered in caches in the game's open world. However, anticipation turned into frustration when its initial late-2008 release date slipped into 2009. Also, concerns were (initially) raised when the game's new visual style--viewable below--was introduced this spring.

120 Comments

  • H0RSE

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 9:20 am GMT

    for those doubting the weapon system....

    Perhaps if all the pistols or all the shotguns shot the same standard ammo (bullets and buckshot) the weapons may seem a little repetitive, But that's not the case in Borderlands. Someone on the forums who played the game found a pistol and thought "this ting is puny" then he fired it and a rocket shot out, and he was like "holy ***!" you can find sniper rifles that load like revolvers, shotguns that shoot electric razorblades, and there was alos a shotgun that fired rockets and buckshot.. The AI will generate weapons using data for ALL guns...so rocket launchers could have shotgun parts. They also have single, auto, and 3 burst firing weapons, a myriad of different scopes and similar modifications to add to weapons. They have different effects like acid, fire, shock damage, high crit chance, etc. When you open the playing field up so much, the weapon system can really work well. I've noticed that the haters on this game tend to be the people that praise MW2 and ODST...I think they are just scared.

  • H0RSE

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 9:09 am GMT

    it doesn't have have 500,000 guns, that is an old number.....the new number is 17,750,000 - source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=220328 -

    That's the latest count on how many permutations of weapons the game has, but it's a liquid number. That's just the weapons, not counting the other gear like shields, mods, artifacts, etc.

  • hipgangsta

    Posted Jul 29, 2009 11:07 am GMT

    @MissMorphine
    Oh, yes, it will be good as, but better as Fallout 3, think about it, 50,000 freakin guns!

  • korko3

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 12:58 pm GMT

    hope it lives up to expectations, always good to see the a good new game that doesn't have a number at the end of it, if you know what i mean

  • MissMorphine

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 12:55 pm GMT

    nice. ill pre order my copy tomorrow. hope is as good as Fallout 3

  • LithuanianGamer

    Posted Jul 25, 2009 5:12 am GMT

    500000 GUNS :

  • SamuraiAsh357

    Posted Jul 24, 2009 3:52 pm GMT

    wtf! I don't know what to think of them turning it into an FPS. I admit i'm irritated. at least thev cel shading looks cool.

  • mrbo69jangles

    Posted Jul 24, 2009 11:37 am GMT

    looks good

  • tttttank

    Posted Jul 24, 2009 5:48 am GMT

    whats this about role playing shooter? they are not trying to make this genre sound new are they?, as its been done before - at least the four player co op in an rpg hasnt and it should prove interesting, but i have a strange feeling the gameplay wont be that great and will have to rely on the customisation of the character stats and weapons and the effects of these changes.

  • yangasam

    Posted Jul 24, 2009 12:11 am GMT

    'sigh' so many great games so little money

  • solidine

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 10:04 pm GMT

    I don't know what this game looked like before, but these graphics are selling me quite well so far.

  • darkhalo_666

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 1:09 pm GMT

    i already see DLC coming

  • sun_rider95

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 1:07 pm GMT

    wainting more gameplay and a review

  • darkhalo_666

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:59 pm GMT

    this game looks sic and i cant wait i just hope i still have money for modern warfare 2

  • slipknot61174

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:45 pm GMT

    This game still looks solid enough that I'm looking forward to it, and I have been since seeing it in another poster's aforementioned Game Informer... but I seriously don't think anything (on PS3, at least) coming out in that time frame is going to compete with the unstoppable juggernaut that is Uncharted 2. They might want to rethink that launch date.

  • damonkeypirate

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:42 pm GMT

    This game looks interesting as hell!

  • deadcowboy6

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:40 pm GMT

    there's too many good games coming out but this one is going to be amazing, 4 players is awesome

  • franwex

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 11:48 am GMT

    Did he say split screen online co op??

    that's gold!

    Or did I misunderstood.

  • Barighm

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 11:47 am GMT

    Sounds good so long as the aiming system is fluid and responsive and driving to a quest location doesn't become the better part of the game (I hate all the driving you have to do in GTA. One reason I've never gotten into the series)

  • Logic_Crocodile

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 11:38 am GMT

    I hope it's good!

  • ISuPrEmAcY32I

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 11:17 am GMT

    cool, i'm excited for it, but will wait for reviews before buying

  • Nedemis

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 10:49 am GMT

    game looks sweet but why the heck did GS decide to put in such loud music compared to the voices in this interview.

  • yarou1000

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 10:14 am GMT

    is that a the real boxart cuz it looks pretty bad lol but the game looks interesting

  • felipenet7

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 9:43 am GMT

    BiA 2 played horribly in the PS3 I waited till the price dropped and payed 15 dollares for it (new) shopto.net if this game doesn't deliver for the PS3 I won't even get it for free! It's up to you again Gear Box!!

  • mbrown333

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 8:31 am GMT

    This is gonna be sick!

  • Hellbishop

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 8:31 am GMT

    Thats one gorgeous looking game with a hefty amount of detail in the ui while still feeling intuitive and easy to get into. Love that its first person. Will definitely be buying BORDERLANDS when it comes out.

  • wswedin

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 8:22 am GMT

    Wow really? Finally a solid release date. Pre order time!

  • derek3257

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 7:38 am GMT

    I'm looking forward to this and many others this year, but the guns, guns , and more guns has definitely got me interested.

  • bulletwaster

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 7:08 am GMT

    This game has just been bumped up to my most wanted list.

  • brian_13un

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 7:05 am GMT

    great

  • wolf0

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:50 am GMT

    i was all about this game when i frist saw it in a old game informer mag like a year ago and at E3 but the new look is just to much for me i try i know it might be fun but i cant get over it the characters dont look right so i got to pass

  • McGregor

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:49 am GMT

    @ camirish

    I'm almost with you on that. The too human hype was huge. I for one enjoyed the game, thought it was very well done. Then i beat it and realized I didn't want to play through it again. That is where they went wrong for me. Also I wished too human, being a loot based game, would have had more co-op. I like the idea that world of warcraft uses: tank, dps, healer. This game looks like it might capitalize where too human missed.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:44 am GMT

    fritter7 is probably right...though a unique weapon and a combination variation is not truly unique...because all those are still the "same" pistol.

    example: 50 weapons each in 1,000 different colors does not truly make 50,000 unique weapons.

  • famguyfan2685

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:43 am GMT

    Definitely getting this on Day 1!!! Can't wait!

  • seankane

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:40 am GMT

    @fritter - being a 'role-playing' sort of game hints that the weapons will be probably all have different 'stats' more than just different builds(which there will probably be, too).

  • seankane

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:38 am GMT

    Super ambitious. Lets hope they nail the basics, or else all these 'awesome' features will become pointless.

  • kvan33

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:33 am GMT

    Still just doesn't look that impressive to me. Gameplay looks a bit shallow, but I'm keeping an eye on it. If it gets good reviews I may purchase.

  • fritter7

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:13 am GMT

    @Chargrilled
    Ok, how about this? Just off the top of my head, what I could think of.
    You have ONE kind of pistol from one manufacturer:
    7 types of bullets (normal, armor piercing, buckshot, flame, shock, freezing, poison)
    4 types of scopes (iron sights, optical, zoom, dot sight)
    2 (supressor or not)
    2 (laser sight or not)
    2 (extended clip or not)
    Equals 224 versions of one *pistol*
    Imagine what it would be for an assault rifle? With front grips, grenade launchers with their own variations, etc.

  • GaM3Pr0

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 4:58 am GMT

    I wouldn't mind playing this. It had a ton of weapons to choose from, and that will probably entertain me for 3 years.

  • Excedra

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 4:51 am GMT

    looks totally awesome

  • mossongreens

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 4:20 am GMT

    I want a new game status... Preordered and payed

  • scar4ever

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 3:36 am GMT

    Looks awesome. Must buy for sure.

  • smokeydubbs

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 2:28 am GMT

    @ Chargrilled

    You may be right, but why choose 10mm? It's not Fallout, and it better not be. Coming up with 500,000 unique guns would be damn near impossible. I don't think there has been that many unique guns (pistols, rifles, shotguns, etc...) since WW1, I want to say since guns were created but I have no frame of reference.

  • NielsNL

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 1:49 am GMT

    Day one purchase for me. One of my most anticipated titles in years.

  • console-deity

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 1:28 am GMT

    For some reason the whole concept of this game interest me, definitely buy this one.

  • CTR360

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 1:03 am GMT

    i rent it first

  • SkidRow18

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:35 am GMT

    hope they wont said they are gonna delay the game later

  • RockonGOW

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:34 am GMT

    cool

  • Chargrilled

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:21 am GMT

    500,000 weapons?

    i can see what they are going to be now -

    10mm pistol 10mm pistol +1
    10mm pistol +2
    10mm pistol +3
    10mm pistol +1 str
    10mm pistol +1 end
    10mm pistol +2 str
    10mm pistol + 5% critical chance
    10mm pistol +1 chr
    10mm pistol +2 chr
    and so on and so on.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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