New Tales from The Borderlands fans have, understandably, been focused on the new cast of characters that the story will focus on. Potential Borderlands cameos have also been discussed, with many excited to see Rhys make an appearance in the first trailer. However, one of the most interesting aspects of the Gamescom footage is the confirmation that one of the Borderlands universe’s many gun brands will be taking on a big role.
In the violent world Gearbox has crafted, it is not surprising that weapon manufacturers are important to the story. Players have witnessed the fall of the Atlas corporation and its revival through Rhys, battled Maliwan in Borderlands 3, and gotten insight into Dahl’s military and mining efforts. Jakobs was given new importance through the introduction of Wainwright, and Mr. Torgue’s appearances have always kept his brand in mind. Hyperion’s impact is unforgettable, too, and now fans will finally be getting the chance to learn what Tediore is all about in New Tales from The Borderlands.
Tediore Becoming More Important is Long Overdue
With so many Borderlands games releasing, Gearbox has had the time to flesh out a majority of the series’ weapon manufacturers, with only Vladof and Tediore in need of more lore. While Vladof’s time to shine is likely not coming until later on, Tediore will finally be taking on a big role in the upcoming spin-off. Though its talking and throwable guns have made the brand memorable from a gameplay perspective, story-wise, it is rare for it to be mentioned.
Whenever Tediore is brought up, it is usually done so at the expense of the brand’s quality, with characters like Rhys making a mockery of Tediore and its weapon quality. In-universe, this makes sense, as Tediore as a brand has been treated as one of the most benevolent corporations. Essentially, Tediore makes and releases intentionally cheap weaponry so that everyone on Pandora - and planets filled with other threats - has a chance to fight back and protect themselves. Described as weaponry for the working class, Tediore guns are so inexpensive that they can be thrown away instead of reloaded, explaining their gimmick.
The bit of information that fans have not only explains why Tediore is the butt of so many jokes, as several Tediore weapons can be purchased for the price of one of the competition’s guns, but it also makes its invasion of Promethea more interesting. Why exactly a company like Tediore would be invading Rhys’ new home planet is unclear, as conflict does not seem in character for Tediore based on what is known thus far. Perhaps some new leadership is to blame for the decision, but regardless, it is exciting to see Tediore finally taking on a bigger role.
Though it will be tough for any Borderlands manufacturer to become as memorable as Hyperion, as Handsome Jack made the company iconic, many of the gun companies in Borderlands can naturally fit into villainous roles. From greedy higher-ups to militaries with unique enemy types, there is plenty of storytelling and gameplay potential that comes from using a manufacturer as an antagonist. As long as Tediore’s invasion is properly explained, the company’s appearance could end up being one of the most appealing parts of the game for those invested in Borderlands’ lore.
With companies like Atlas and Hyperion being fleshed out for years, it is nice to see Tediore finally getting some time in the spotlight. Hopefully, Borderlands 4 will delve into Vladof in a similar way, as more can and should be done with the Russian-themed group. Thanks to New Tales from The Borderlands, Tediore has an opportunity to become more than just a source of walking guns and cheap gear, which is something that should happen with the other company that is in need of more lore. Regardless, Tediore’s involvement is something that makes New Tales from The Borderlands’ story a lot more interesting, and the game should benefit from utilizing a less prominent Borderlands organization.
New Tales from the Borderlands launches October 21 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
