All month long, Game Informer is releasing new Borderlands 2 information every 2-3 days, including art, articles, podcasts, and video, all in addition to the 12-page exclusive and cover of the September issue.  There’s a ton of information pouring out, but if you don’t have time to digest it all, check in here to get just the bullet-points, videos, and need-to-know info as it comes in.  Make sure to subscribe to our Twitter to know when we’ve updated the page.

Video

Screenshots

These shots are most likely not actually in-game and are more artist concepts, but give you a general idea the direction things are currently heading.

Gameplay

• Co-op returns for up to 4 players
• Some classes/abilities allow for dual wielding
• Skill Tree remains 3 branches
• New pickups include temporary buffs
• Game saves stored in a cloud (PC only?)
• You can go online with 2-player splitscreen
• Class Mods and Artifacts are returning

Eridium

• New element “Eridium” augments other element’s powers
• Eridium is also a currency used to buy the most powerful weapons
• Eridium also can be used as in-battle temporary buffs
• Enemies can use their own Eridium, but it can be shot out of their hands before use

Enemies

• Improved AI and cover usage
• Badass Fire Skags can engulf pups with their flames, giving a buff and fire resistance
• New Druid enemy uses shield and deflects projectiles back at player.
• Druids can heal each other in groups, at the cost of their deflector shield
• New “Bullymong” is a 4-armed ape that climbs structures and throws scenery as projectiles

Vehicles

• All vehicles will have room for 4
• More variety, including one called “Bandit Technical”
• Vehicles can powerslide
• More precise hit detection

Class Mods/Artifacts

• Both are returning with same purposes
• Class Mods are similar, but new wider customization options
• Artifacts will offer massive variety of abilities
• Possible Artifact ability: Giving vehicle health boost aura
• Possible Artifact ability: % chance for shots to not deplete ammo

Classes

Only one class has been confirmed, Salvador the “Gunzerker”

Gunzerker

• Can dual wield any gun for short period of time
• This is the character from the GI cover (and header on 87bazillion.com)
• New Ability: Fire rate increases as trigger is held down
• New Ability: Increased accuracy with same class weapon dual wielding
• New Ability: Double Damage with mixed class weapon dual wielding
• Will have Brick’s powerful Melee capability

Manufacturers

• 8 Manufacturers have been revealed, including 1 new one (Bandit)
• Manufacturers have much greater influence on the behavior of the gun
• S&S, Atlas, and Eridians have not been confirmed as returning, all other gun manufacturers have
• Manufacturers will have much more impact on the visual design of guns
• Weapons can have custom decals and enhancements
• Weapon’s quality can be identified “at a glance” through new material system

Bandit

• New manufacturer features guns made by the bandits of Pandora (the guys from the cover of BL1)
• Ramshackle guns are pieced together bootleg style
• Might have glass bottle instead of scope
• Might have screw instead of ironsight
• Largest Magazines
• Large Magazine = Slow Reload Time

Dahl

• Familiar modern weapons (a la COD/Battlefield)

Hyperion

• Will look similar to Claptrap

Vladof

• Russian vibe with similarities to an AK-47
• All weapons will have minigun barrels as attachments
• Highest fire rate of any manufacturer

Tediore

• Can be thrown like a grenade at any time
• Ammo left in clip increases power of explosion
• “Digistruct” device automatically replaces your gun after explosion

Torgue

• Features most destructive guns
• “Biggest, loudest display of power possible”

Maliwan

• “One of the sleeker options”
• Possible futuristic

Jakobs

• Cross between old west and WW2
• High Damage Stats

Source

Story

• Takes place 5 years after Borderlands 1
• Takes place on Pandora
• New character “Handsome Jack” claims credit for original Vault Hunter’s accomplishments
• Handsome Jack buys Hyperion and appears to be the main villian
• HJ wants to rid the seedy underbelly of Pandora, including Vault Hunters
• Players start in HJ’s Arena, win the tournament, and are betrayed and left in a frozen Tundra
• Players contact the Guardian Angel from first game and are told to save Pandora
• Players will contact the original Vault Hunters who are NPCs in BL2
• Claptrap is returning, and is also fighting Hyperion

Source