Sirens play an integral part of each Borderlands game, often influencing or being at the crux of major events in their respective games. Their importance to both the plots and the in-game universe is immeasurable, and Borderlands 4 will likely continue this trend of adding a new siren with each game.
Since its first installment, Borderlands has included a siren among its playable characters. The characters often go on to become major characters in the next game, with Lilith and Maya being the most notable examples. But with the abundance of sirens on board Sanctuary and relevant to the main narrative, Borderlands 4 may not necessarily need to add another playable siren to that list.
The Future of Sirens in the Borderlands
Though very little is known about the plot of Borderlands 4, Borderlands 3's emphasis on sirens within its story means they will likely play a large role in events to come. The game even hints at a secret and powerful seventh siren, possibly setting up a future conflict. This would not be too dissimilar to past games' plots, which often include sirens as driving forces behind the progression of the plot. If Borderlands 4 were to include another siren as a playable character, it would need to address player characters who are playing as sirens through dialogue or plot developments. However, this has not been the case for previous iterations.
The issue of the lack of acknowledgment for siren players was most apparent in Borderlands 3, a game whose conflict and resolution surrounds itself around the existence of sirens. Most notably, Amara players, despite being a siren, were given very little attention from the plot. This level of disconnect may find itself continuing if another siren is included in the next installment. While there are several questions about who exactly Borderlands' sirens are, those questions can be answered without another playable siren being added to the mix.
Because sirens are becoming more relevant as plot devices, the inclusion of a playable siren may not be necessary. There is already a long list of powerful sirens in the story, and including more may lead to a convoluted plot for later games. Sirens have become something more substantial than simply super-powered people, but people that can shape and change the universe and its history. At this point, the inclusion of a siren would be for the sake of tradition. However, the lack of a siren could bring a certain amount of discontent in the fan base if it were not to be included as a playable choice in Borderlands 4.
Borderlands' playable characters often fulfill archetypal roles, such as assassins and soldiers. Sirens fulfill the archetypal role of a mage-like character, being able to sling their seemingly magical gifts. The removal of that option could be seen as a detriment to the Borderlands character formula, turning away many fans of the franchise. A way to circumvent this would be to take a page out of the book of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, the black sheep of the franchise. The game included a character by the name of Aurelia, who had ice-themed abilities because of an expensive device she was using. In order to fulfill the mage archetype, Borderlands 4 could come up with a character who could employ a similar device with different effects.
Though sirens have become increasingly important in the plot of the games, their inclusion as a playable character has not, as it has been shown before that the mage archetype can be fulfilled by other characters to the same degree a siren would. Though fans will have to wait for Borderlands 4 to know for sure, it feels like the game can do without another playable siren.