Highlights

  • Borderlands 4 remains highly anticipated, with rumors suggesting it's in development.
  • Recent criticism of the franchise puts pressure on the game to deliver, and it may be best to play it safe, as attempts to deviate from the formula - like Tiny Tina's Wonderlands DLC or the controversial movie changes - have been met with criticism.
  • To succeed, Borderlands 4 should stick to its established formula and avoid unnecessary risks.

Borderlands 4 has yet to be formally announced, but that hasn't stopped it from being highly anticipated. Currently, its existence relies solely on rumors and speculation, as well as a possible tease by the CEO of Gearbox. That being said, Gearbox likely knows it would be leaving money on the table without releasing Borderlands 4, so chances are fairly high that it is currently in development.

If Borderlands 4 does eventually happen, there's little way of knowing what it might bring to the table. In addition to an increasing number of available weapons, each Borderlands installment has introduced an array of new features that improve the series' quality of life, gameplay, and narrative. While Borderlands 2 has been deemed by many the best entry in the series, every Borderlands game has contributed to the franchise's continued success in one way or another. However, although Borderlands 4 now has a chance to attempt to improve on the series' tried-and-true formula even further, it may want to consider playing it safe instead, especially in light of some relatively recent criticism the franchise has received.

Borderlands 4 Bring Back DLC Characters Custom edit
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Why Borderlands 4 Should Probably Play It Safe

Borderlands 4 Is Under Immense Pressure to Please

Despite no official announcement, Borderlands 4 is already under immense pressure to please due to recent events. The highly anticipated live-action Borderlands film was recently revealed on the Borderlands official Twitter account, alongside a trailer that introduced the film's cast. Unfortunately, this led to the film receiving heavy preemptive criticism, with most of that criticism aimed at the age of the cast members chosen to play each role. Other criticism has targeted the writing, as some of the characters in the trailer seem to be a far cry from a faithful adaptation.

Furthermore, although the Tiny Tina's Wonderlands spin-off was fairly well received, its DLC wasn't. As the most recent Borderlands game to be released, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands started off with a bang, but eventually left many players with a sour taste in their mouths by the time its DLC rolled out. All in all, the Borderlands franchise has had a rough go of it recently, which puts Borderlands 4 in a tough spot. Perhaps the best lesson it can learn from what Gearbox has attempted to do with the live-action Borderlands film and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands' DLC is that sometimes, it's better for a franchise to stick to its guns and simply give the fans what they want.

The main story of Borderlands 3 also proved controversial with fans, beginning a trend of negativity regarding certain aspects of modern Borderlands projects.

Borderlands 4 Should Keep Things Simple and Straightforward

From its humble beginnings in 2009, the Borderlands series has firmly established a formula for itself that it may never be able to break away from, and that's okay. In fact, almost anytime it has attempted to veer off course even the slightest bit, it has generally attracted divisive opinions from its most faithful followers. As such, it may be better for Borderlands 4 just to be another Borderlands game — nothing too special, nothing out of the ordinary, just plain old straightforward Borderlands. Sure, fresh playable characters, more weapons, and new skills are a must, but anything more than that and Borderlands 4 could be digging its own grave.

Until an official confirmation about Borderlands 4 is made, it might be best for expectations to remain in check. There is no telling what Gearbox has up its sleeve for the next game in the Borderlands franchise, but hopes are high that whatever it is will surpass the series' most recent blunders. At the very least, the gaming community will likely be getting another Borderlands title, even though it's impossible to know just how soon that might happen.