Credit: Gearbox Software
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FL4K Officially Returns to Borderlands 4 on September 10
July 24, 2026·4 min read
FL4K is finally stepping back into the Borderlands spotlight, but the Beastmaster is not returning as the next playable Vault Hunter. The Borderlands 3 favourite leads FL4K and the Last Resort, the second story expansion for Borderlands 4, which arrives on September 10 with a missing pet, a new island, and another corporate invasion to stop.
The setup begins with Mr. Chew disappearing on Kairos, giving FL4K a reason to continue the Hunt beyond another search for rare weapons. Their trail leads to an overgrown volcanic resort where Tediore is preparing a secret attack. It is a simple story hook, but one that fits FL4K far better than a short cameo built only around nostalgia.
Mr. Chew was a constant part of FL4K's identity in Borderlands 3, where the skag fought beside the Beastmaster and helped make pet builds feel different from the other Vault Hunters. Turning his disappearance into the main problem gives the expansion a personal reason to bring FL4K back instead of dropping them into Kairos without much explanation.
The search opens a new region built around a lush jungle island and a resort shaped by volcanic growth. Gearbox has not shown the full map, mission count, bosses, or side activities yet, but the setting should give the expansion a different look from the deserts and industrial areas already found across Kairos.
Tediore's hidden invasion gives the campaign a larger threat once the search reaches the island. The company is usually remembered for guns that are thrown away during reloads, so a full military operation could give it more room to become a proper enemy. FL4K can keep the story focused on Mr. Chew while the new area supports a wider Borderlands campaign.
Players will meet FL4K during the story, but Loveless the Hacker is the new character joining the playable roster. She is a former Anshin hacker who became an assassin after receiving advanced cybernetic upgrades. Her self-made digital virus can take physical form, giving her a power built around technology rather than pets, magic, or heavy weapons.
Gearbox has not revealed her complete skill trees, so the exact shape of her combat is still unclear. The virus could work like a companion, a clone, or a tool that changes through different builds. Borderlands characters usually live or die by the freedom inside their skill trees, making her full gameplay reveal more important than the first description.
Loveless will be the sixth and final planned Vault Hunter for Borderlands 4, following C4SH from Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned. The first story pack delivered a strong new character and a fresh region, but its $29.99 price and short main campaign left some buyers wanting more. That puts extra pressure on the second expansion to offer a longer reason to stay.
FL4K and the Last Resort launch alongside Version 1.10, giving Gearbox a chance to pair the paid campaign with wider changes across Borderlands 4. The studio has not detailed the full update yet, so performance work, balance changes, endgame improvements, and easier menu controls are still possible parts of the September release.
Bounty Pack 5 also arrives on the same day with another story mission and Vault Card. Gearbox plans to share its full rewards closer to launch, but the pack will sit beside the larger story expansion rather than replace it. Players should therefore expect several separate pieces of content instead of one update containing everything.
The return of FL4K is enough to bring old Beastmaster players back for a look, especially after their absence from the main Borderlands 4 campaign. The stronger test will be whether the new island offers useful endgame rewards, repeatable fights, and enough missions to justify its price. Gearbox now needs to show the map, Loveless's skill trees, and how long the Hunt lasts.
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See if you have what it takes to go down in history as a legendary Vault Hunter as you search for secret alien treasure, blasting everything in sight.
Released
September 11, 2025
Developer
Gearbox Software
Publisher
2K
