This September will mark four years since the release ofBorderlands 3, leaving many inveterate fans to believe official news aboutBorderlands 4is inevitable. With roughly four years between each of the previous majorBorderlandsreleases, 2023 or 2024 seem primed for a big reveal. Though fans' thirst remains partially quenched thanks to a steady schedule of downloadable content and the spin-offTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, few unannounced games have as much hype behind them asBorderlands 4.
Borderlands 3has a favorable reputation in hindsight, but its initial launch had its fair share of criticisms. While Gearbox has a solid track record of listening to fans' concerns and implementing requested features post-launch, it can use lessons from its last release to make the franchise’s next launch its best to date. By simply carrying overkeyBorderlands 3features toBorderlands 4, Gearbox can satisfy a huge portion of diehard fans.
RELATED:Borderlands 4 Might Move Away From One of The Series' Defining Features
Borderlands 4 Needs to Pull From Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Probably the most demanded feature forBorderlands 4is an array of melee weapons. While fans have called for melee weapons since the series' inception, they first appeared inTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and it would be a missed opportunity if they aren’t brought over to the next iteration of the mainline series.
Players' main criticism of themelee weapons inTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis that they were relatively underpowered when compared to alternatives, butBorderlands 4would have the chance to remedy that mistake. IfBorderlands 4takes melee weapons and cements them as a viable alternative to traditional builds, it would satisfy long-time fans and potentially draw in gamers who have never engaged with theBorderlandsfranchise before.
Melee weapons are not the only aspect thatBorderlands 4should borrow fromTiny Tina’s Wonderlands. Although magical spells wouldn’t fit the general aesthetic, Gearbox should consider other alternatives to grenades, or find a way to spice them up.Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsshowed the potential of disruptingBorderlands' longstanding systems, andBorderlands 4shouldn’t shy away from pushing the envelope. Whether it’s gameplay changes or merely a greater degree of build and character diversity, there’s plenty to be learned from the successes ofTiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Borderlands 4 Should Explore The Great War and Introduce Fresh Twists
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelintroduced the idea that a massive war was coming. Fans have often debated whether the events ofBorderlands 3could be interpreted asThe Watcher’s War, but this ambiguity leaves the door open forBorderlands 4to settle the debate once and for all. It’s clear that fans expected an epic full-scale war based on The Watcher’s foreshadowing, and Gearbox can still deliver on that prophecy inBorderlands 4.
IfBorderlands 4centers around The Great War, it will introduce a scale of combat never seen in theBorderlandsfranchise, which could set the stage for this upcoming title to have one of the series' strongest stories yet. WhetherBorderlands 4decides to explore The Great War or not, it’s important that the game closes this chapter for good with zero ambiguity. Between the foreshadowing ofBorderlands: The Pre-Sequeland more teasing in theDirector’s CutDLC, fans are growing impatient, and it’s time to address The Great War for better or worse.
At the very least,Borderlands 4should avoid its usual storytelling tropes, and take fan-favorite characters in wildly different directions. Thus far, theBorderlandsseries has been very successful with its formula, but Gearbox has uniquely invested and loyal fans, and it will need to takeBorderlands 4in a dramatic new direction to surprise them.
