In a sea of serious shooters like Halo, Call of Duty, and Medal of Honor, Borderlands was a breath of fresh air, with its liberal approach to comedy, cel-shaded art style, and abundance of weapons that made a lack of balance feel like and enjoyable and deliberate game mechanic. What began during the Xbox 360 and PS3 generation is still going today, but the future remains unclear.

The series has reaches audiences of all varieties, and though nothing has been confirmed surrounding Borderlands 4, it's easy to speculate about what it will -- or won't -- be. The franchise is still viewed favorably by gamers, but it's been over a decade since the Gearbox-developed IP was at its very best. To keep players entertained with compelling things to do, it might be best if Borderlands 4 is the end cap on the series as it currently exists, as it has proven to be effective outside the shooter space.

Borderlands 3 Showed Change is Needed

The first game, launched in 2009, was a compelling experience, but it always felt as though the budding franchise hadn't yet hit its stride. The 2012 follow-up improved upon the original in so many ways, rendering the original effort largely redundant as Borderlands 2 was the definitive loot-based shooter in gaming. The Pre-Sequel used assets from the second game to flesh out iconic Borderlands villain Handsome Jack, and when the third finally launched in 2019, despite reviews being positive, among gamers it became clear that series fatigue began to set in.

Borderlands 3 is by no means bad, but it does little to build on the success of the second, and a seven-year wait between mainline games didn't help matters. It's the first time the franchise felt stagnant, so if Borderlands 4 was to do the same, it could be a big problem, as the samey nature could feel like a bigger drawback than usual. Closing the loop with Borderlands 4 and doing something fresh, be it a MMO that's been rumored or a more story-focused affair, could keep the series on the minds of fans ell into the next generation.

Borderlands Has Shown it Can Do Things Differently

Though fans of the IP have become accustomed to finding weapons, undertaking side activities, and gunning down wacky enemies from a first-person perspective, history has shown that Borderlands can flourish in multiple genres. 2014's Tales From The Borderlands is one of Telltale's best, and most surprising games, and succeeds in large part because it is so accurate to the Gearbox series. It accentuates the characters and world-building rather than changes it, and in doing so it stands as evidence that Borderlands is far more than the sum of its parts. Today, it's clear that the series needs a change, and history implies it has the means to adapt with grace.

Pandora, through the comedic writing that Borderlands is known for, has shown that it can take center stage to produce quality and worthwhile gaming experiences, so leaving the familiar format behind in favor of something new wouldn't necessarily be the monumental task it seems, and could reap huge benefits. The setting, characters, and comedy are the essential pillars of Borderlands, as the third game's drawbacks show. With plenty of other looter-shooters around to fill the void that Gearbox's magnum opus could leave, Borderlands 4 serving as the main series' swansong would give it the weight needed to be memorable, and also save the series from the ever-likely risk of repetition, which Borderlands can be susceptible to.

Borderlands 4 is rumored to be in development.

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