Gearbox Software

Gearbox Software is a AAA game-development studio creating interactive entertainment across first-person shooters, action role-playing games, co-operative multiplayer systems, and narrative-driven worlds. Founded in 1999, the studio first worked on official expansions and conversions for Valve’s Half-Life before establishing its own properties with the Brothers in Arms series.

Its best-known franchise, Borderlands, debuted in 2009 and combined first-person combat, role-playing progression, procedurally generated weapons, and co-operative play. The studio has continued the series through major releases including Borderlands 2, Borderlands 3, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, New Tales from the Borderlands, and Borderlands 4. Its portfolio also includes Battleborn, Duke Nukem Forever, Homeworld Remastered Collection, and work on Halo: Combat Evolved for PC.

Development capabilities

Gearbox provides full-cycle AAA game design and software engineering, spanning game mechanics, level architecture, narrative development, 3D modeling and animation, Unreal Engine technical art, audio, and original score composition. Its specialties include FPS and action RPG development, real-time strategy, world-building, and cross-platform online services through the SHiFT network architecture.

The studio also develops and extends entertainment properties beyond games, with transmedia IP development relevant to film and television adaptations. Its work encompasses both original franchises and established game properties, including Duke Nukem, Homeworld, and Risk of Rain.

Current ownership

Gearbox Software operates as an active development subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software under the 2K publishing label. Take-Two acquired The Gearbox Entertainment Company from Embracer Group in June 2024, bringing Gearbox Software and its Québec-based development branches under 2K alongside key Gearbox franchises. The studio’s latest mainline Borderlands release, Borderlands 4, launched in September 2025.