Borderlands 3 players are waiting for the next update on DLC 4, but thus far, Gearbox has been unusually quiet concerning it. Other than the teaser that confirms Krieg is involved, there's been nothing else about it released. Making it even stranger is the fact that there hasn't been a BL3 roadmap since the Spring 2020 version, so players don't really even know when to expect it.
Past patterns would suggest that it would release next month, which also happens to be the 1-year anniversary of its release. BL3 is hosting a series of mini-events to celebrate, but it's likely this Krieg DLC is meant to be the highlight of the party. Nonetheless, the relative silence around this is unusual, leaving fans to simply wish and speculate about what might be seen. There will likely be the basics of all dlcs, as Borderlands 3 DLC 4 expectations are simple enough to manage, but there's one thing that a DLC based on Krieg cannot avoid: the death of Maya.
Borderlands 3's Twists
If there is one thing Gearbox is a pro at, it's messing with heartstrings. The death of Bloodwing in Borderlands 2, as well as Tiny Tina's grief over Roland's Death in Assault on Dragon Keep, prove this. Yet Gearbox was not content to end there. Come Borderlands 3, players were subjected to the death of Maya, perhaps worsened by Ava's attitude, and then Lilith's disappearance, which was a bunch to handle. Gearbox even teased players with the destruction of Deathtrap in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC, which the thought of alone and watching Gaige panic was heartwrenching enough. It would seem Borderlands characters are always on the verge of death, but Maya's was perhaps one that no one saw coming.
But the full extent of Maya's death has yet to be felt, despite shocking players during the main campaign. As many know, Maya and Krieg go way back in Borderlands 2. His introduction trailer featured the two characters, with it clear that the rational character trapped within Krieg had quickly developed feelings for Maya. And this is only worsened in Borderlands 3.
Borderlands 3: Krieg and Maya
Krieg is not in the base game of Borderlands 3, but there are several recordings which show that he did not want Maya to leave. She even promises to be back, a promise that she can no longer keep. And with Krieg returning for DLC 4, this is something that cannot be avoided. In the Krieg tease (seen above), it seems two colors may represent his broken psyche. Krieg cannot control his psychopathic rage, but within him is actually a rational man. This psyche, however, is likely to be even more broken when Krieg learns of Maya's death.
At a surface level, it's hard not to compare this thought process to that of Claptastic Voyage from Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. In it, the Vault Hunters were sent into the mind of Claptrap, and while it may not be as literal, there seems like there's a good chance players will have to dive into the distorted mind of Krieg. There is so little known about the DLC, but there's one thing for certain: Krieg's reaction to Maya's death cannot be avoided, and players might see how he copes with this for good or ill.
Borderlands 3 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
