The trailer for *Borderlands 4* may have been light on details, but fans have been given a glimpse of what lies ahead, courtesy of Gearbox. The long-awaited fourth installment in the beloved shooter series was unveiled during the recent Gamescom Opening Night Live event. Despite the teaser’s cryptic nature, it hasn’t deterred the community’s enthusiasm. Many are delving into the footage, searching for hidden messages or elusive Easter eggs, while Gearbox offers a slight peek behind the curtain.
According to Gamespot, Gearbox presented some concept art from *Borderlands 4* during a panel at PAX West.
The artwork reveals various scenes from a new setting, marking a significant departure for the series. Every previous mainline game has been set primarily on Pandora, even *Borderlands 3*, which, despite allowing travel to different planets, remained heavily connected to Pandora, albeit in a more desolate form. The images portray a world considerably darker than previous titles, showcasing extensive technological displays and futuristic design elements intertwined with traditional architecture and layouts.
What Can Fans Expect From Borderlands 4?
#### Out With The Old, But Not All Of It…
In discussing *Borderlands 4*, art director Adam May mentioned that while they can’t divulge much about the concept art, the game offers “a chance to play… with some of that high technology stuff” depicted in every image. The *Borderlands* series hasn’t shied away from showcasing technology, but the more advanced gear is typically found off-planet. Now, the team is focusing on integrating it into the main location. May also expressed Gearbox’s excitement to explore new territories, emphasizing that the studio is eager to avoid “rehashing the same world over and over.”
Details on *Borderlands 4* remain scarce, but some fans speculate the game will resurrect a cherished villain: Handsome Jack. The teaser trailer concludes with a brief “glitch” showing a face seemingly marked by a Vault Symbol, reminiscent of Jack, prompting theories of his return despite his demise in *Borderlands 2* and a subsequent “death” in *Tales From the Borderlands*. Decoded text has also led enthusiasts to speculate about the Watcher’s involvement in the story, though all of this remains conjecture.
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*Borderlands 4* faces the daunting task of living up to the legacy of its predecessors. Additionally, it carries the burden of compensating for the live-action *Borderlands* movie, widely regarded as one of 2024’s poorest films. With such high stakes, there’s hope that *Borderlands 4* can deliver a satisfying experience.
Borderlands Needs An Overhaul
#### Is It Time To Go Truly Open-World?
The *Borderlands* series is famed for its expansive maps teeming with bizarre enemies and encounters. However, it’s undeniable that the presentation of each location can quickly grow monotonous. While the original *Borderlands* and its sequel managed to thrive with a segmented world design, many players were disappointed that *Borderlands 3*, released during the height of the open-world trend, failed to capitalize on it. Though the third game introduced new movement mechanics, many maps remained linear, straightforward journeys from one end to the other.
There is hope that *Borderlands 4* will offer a genuine open-world experience, where action isn’t isolated from the core hub. While such a shift might reduce some dungeon-crawling aspects, envisioning a *Borderlands* game with elements from *Far Cry* to create a seamless exploratory experience isn’t far-fetched. Whether or not this is the plan remains unknown, but the hint of a new planet being central to the game’s experience indicates Gearbox is contemplating significant changes.
Borderlands Players Are Tired Of Pandora
#### It’s Time For Some New Scenery
Pandora has been the mainstay of the *Borderlands* franchise since the first game launched in 2009. Though it’s become iconic, it’s also time to acknowledge that the planet itself isn’t particularly remarkable. Several *Borderlands* characters have even joked that all the bloodshed over the world doesn’t seem justified when Pandora’s primary value lies in mining Eridium—a mineral crucial to the corporations but burdensome to settlers.
While Gearbox’s projects often vary in success, *Borderlands* consistently stands out as the studio’s prized asset. Pandora has become repetitive, the only constant in a series that thrives on surprising players with each new installment. While spinoffs like *Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel* and *Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands* have split opinions, many agree that their fresh environments are their greatest assets. *Pre-Sequel* introduced innovative changes to movement by setting the game on one of Pandora’s moons, while *Wonderlands* offered a significant tonal shift with its medieval fantasy theme.
I'm Disappointed In This Major Borderlands 4 Change
Many questions still surround *Borderlands 4*, but knowing Gearbox, players likely won’t have to wait long for answers. The game is slated for a 2025 release, meaning the studio will gradually release details over the coming months before a flood of information arrives closer to launch. Gearbox’s projects are often hit-or-miss, but *Borderlands* remains their most cherished franchise.
Source: Gamespot
Key Background
*Borderlands 4* will be available on all major platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam + Epic).
The storyline of *Borderlands 4* will continue from the end of *Borderlands 3*, but it is expected to leap forward a few years.
*Borderlands 4* will support cross-platform play thanks to Gearbox Software’s proprietary cross-play infrastructure.
