Borderlands 4 needs to leave its Golden Goose in the dust

by

Key recommendations

  • The Borderlands 4 teaser hints at the return of Lilith with her Phasewalking on a moon or a large planet in the sky.
  • Speculations about Handsome Jack returning as the main villain in BL4 have been debunked by Randy Pitchford.
  • BL4 should move away from Handsome Jack to allow for new enemies and character growth as well as not make the series stagnate.



After a long time when Gearbox was silent and rumors were the only source of information regarding Borderlands 4The iconic looter-shooter finally showed up at Gamescom, sparking plenty of fan theories about what the next chapter in the series will be. Little is known for now, with the teaser showing some familiar elements mixed with new details, all hinting at a big chapter to come. Borderlands 3The Director's Cut DLC confirmed that Lilith was still alive after the game's ending and Borderlands 4His teaser confirms as much by showing his Phoenix Phoenix symbol in the sky.


Not only that, but Borderlands 4His Phoenix precedes the appearance of a giant moon or even a full-fledged planet being teleported, which is consistent with Lilith's Phasewalk ability, meaning it's probably her thing. Some fans also latched onto a frame that showed the Vault symbol in a way that seemed to match Handsome Jack's scar, as shown in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelbut this theory was quickly shot down by Randy Pitchford himself, saying it was something “much more dangerous and sinister”. Although this seems to confirm that Handsome Jack will not be Borderlands 4his villain, does not confirm if the series is moving away from him.

Borderlands 4 Best Loot Drops

Related

Borderlands 4 can make sure it's the best it can be by embracing a series first

Borderlands 4 is facing an uphill battle with fans, but the first series could see the title flourish by allowing players to shape the final product.

Borderlands 4 risks cementing handsome Jack as the face of the franchise


Why BL4 shouldn't include Handsome Jack

Borderlands 4 it's been a long time coming, and if it's not delayed, it's likely to launch in the fall of 2025, about 6 years after BL3. Although Borderlands 3 was a huge game in its own right, it moved the franchise forward in more ways than one, it was probably two steps forward and one step back due to its reliance on Handsome Jack once again. It's understandable, on the one hand, since Handsome Jack has become the face of the franchise and is also considered one of the best villains in video games.

Jack, on the other hand, completely dominated Borderlands 2he was a big part of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequeland then had a DLC dedicated to his legacy in Borderlands 3 as well as a side quest that highlighted the tragic story of Jack's family. With such a looming shadow over the franchise, it's no surprise that BL3his villains have been compared to Handsome Jack and were no match for him. As such, having Handsome Jack “come back” in any shape or form Borderlands 4 it wouldn't allow the series to move forward, which it desperately needs.


Why Borderlands 4 needs a blank slate without Handsome Jack

Handsome Jack is everywhere in the franchise, with his likeness appearing in Tales from the Borderlands games on top of the main series. A whole new enemy takes over Borderlands 4 sounds great, especially if this entity is really much more dangerous and sinister than Border countriesJack, but it's not enough. Instead, the new title should reduce Jack to a footnote for his own sake, he can appear as an easter egg in some dialogue or weapon text and nothing more. Players will most likely remember Jack anyway, but veterans and newcomers alike would benefit from witnessing an empty roster.


Over time, it became almost an expectation to see Jack Border countries games considering how often it was used. Removing this familiar element may not necessarily feel like the best, but it would allow the existing characters to grow more as it would allow the new ones to shine brighter. Borderlands 4 has the chance to deliver The Watcher war, a long-running part of the series that promoted the next big release after The Pre-Sequelon which BL3 he didn't build much. If it is, it will need a lot of old and new faces alike in the game's universe – and as much as The Pre-Sequel is in a way Handsome Jack's game, The Watcher war is supposed to take place in a universe where Jack is a distant memory.

Leave a Comment