Here's the exact minute you can start playing Borderlands 4, so get ready

Gearbox has confirmed the exact Borderlands 4 launch times in all regions, meaning the wait to play the hotly anticipated new FPS is finally almost at an end. I've had a long history with the series; I picked up the first Borderlands on a whim, not expecting it to consume hundreds of hours of my life with its beautiful blend of shooting and looting. Since then, it's been through many incarnations, and the more I see of BL4 the more I'm starting to feel the itch to get back to the vault hunter lifestyle. Thankfully, it won't be much longer.

The Borderlands 4 release date is now less than a week away. Granted, we might not have expected a Team Cherry-flavored meal to arrive on our plates when Gearbox first laid out its launch schedule, but I'm still eager to dive into Kairos. That speaks to how much the Borderlands 4 developer's character reveals and endgame explainers have done to raise my excitement level. Add on Jamie's praise for its combat in our latest hands-on preview, and I'm increasingly convinced we might have one of the best FPS games of the year on our hands. But when can we start?

The really good news is that, while the release is listed as Friday September 12, regional timings mean that if you're in the United States, UK, or Europe, you will actually be able to start a day earlier, on Thursday September 11. You can see the full list of times below.

Borderlands 4 launch times on Steam and the Epic Games Store

Here are the Borderlands 4 launch times for PC, which are the same for both Steam and the Epic Games Store:

• Wellington, New Zealand - Friday September 12 at 4am NZST
• Sydney, Australia - Friday September 12 at 2am AEST
• Tokyo, Japan - Friday September 12 at 1am JST
• Singapore - Friday September 12 at 12am SGT
• Paris, France - Thursday September 11 at 6pm CEST
• London, UK - Thursday September 11 at 5pm BST
• New York, NY, USA - Thursday September 11 at 12pm ET
• San Francisco, CA, USA - Thursday September 11 at 9am PT

Which of the playable Borderlands 4 characters will you be choosing first? I'm completely torn; I don't think I've ever been so evenly split between all four options for any previous game in the series, but they all sound good. It's hard to argue against a Vex build, with Sirens being such a reliable pillar of almost every game. But as a former Brick main, perhaps I should embrace raw power and lean into an Amon build.

Typically, I haven't quite clicked as much with soldier loadouts since the first game gave us Roland with his colossal magazine size and immense fire rate. But a Rafa build is always going to be a versatile option that's ideal if you're a beginner or want to have options for any situation. Honestly, though? Seeing her gadgets in action, which can damage-link foes or pull them together and bounce them around Maya-style, a Harlowe build might just be my winner.

Whatever your pick, there's just days to wait. Make sure you've double-checked the Borderlands 4 system requirements so you don't get a nasty surprise on day one. If you're in need of an upgrade, take a look through our comprehensive guide to the best gaming PC.

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