Borderlands is a science fiction first-person shooter with RPG elements (a role-playing shooter) that was developed by Gearbox Software for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The console versions of the game were released in North America on October 20, 2009, and were released in PAL countries on October 23. The Windows version was released on October 26 for North America and then on October 29 for the rest of the world. The game was first revealed in the September 2007 issue of Game Informer magazine.
Borderlands features; four player online cooperative play, which allows players to join and leave games whenever they want to, along with other single-player and multiplayer modes and a large number of weapons. Players can choose from four different playable characters who each have their own unique abilities and skill trees. In addition, players may have access to customizable vehicles for "vehicular combat" and will also be able to customize their pre-selected character. Defeated enemies will sometimes drop equipment, which is then available for players to pick up. The game is described by Gearbox Software as an "RPS," or "role-playing shooter."