What Borderlands 4 must get proper to win again looter shooter followers

Throughout Gamescom Opening Night Live , Gearbox introduced Borderlands 4 is debuting in 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Sequence X / S. Following the middling group reception surrounding 2019’s Borderlands 3, the builders have an actual shot at making Borderlands 4 an distinctive looter shooter.

Gearbox continues to be preserving issues fairly near its chest. The Borderlands 4 teaser trailer says the awaited sequel sees gamers as soon as once more taking over the “function of a legendary Vault Hunter as they blast their manner via hordes of enemies in quest of new treasures to loot on an all-new planet.” All of this suits the sequence’ MO, leaving us with loads of room to invest on how Gearbox will leverage the IP’s roots as a looter shooter. At one level, Borderlands was the poster youngster of the style. Now, looter shooters have evolved and expectations of what Borderlands 4 must have as properly.

Borderlands 4 must refine its loot methods

Gearbox can deal with a extra fulfilling endgame relatively than a slew of various weapons

Gearbox

Borderlands 4

Methods

Franchise

Borderlands

Launched

2025

When Borderlands 2 outlined the looter shooter style again in 2012, having over 2,000,000 completely different weapons within the recreation was so novel. Most of them have been generated by completely different producers, rarities, stats, and buffs. These days, gamers need extra significant weapon choices to hunt out within the recreation. Video games like Future 2, The Division 2, and The First Descendant all present far more restraint.

A part of Borderlands’ DNA is the variety of weapons. Nonetheless, by scaling again its weapon pool, Borderlands 4 may focus on a refined loot system in its endgame content material. Give gamers a big handful of higher-tier weapons to chase. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands confirmed that the tighter the endgame expertise, the higher the reception.

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Deal with the characters with respect in Borderlands 4, please Gearbox

Core characters have been completed soiled within the third core installment of the franchise.

Gearbox

With out spoilers for many who haven’t performed Borderlands 3, sure characters weren’t handled properly in any respect. This left a number of followers pissed off and downright upset by the point credit rolled. Borderlands arguably hasn’t positioned story or narrative entrance and heart. As an alternative, the sport has constructed a following for its open world co-op escapades and looter shooter mechanics. Nonetheless, since 2019, followers have adopted the likes of Lilith, Roland, Claptrap, and many others.

What actually stung for the fanbase (together with myself) was that Borderlands 3 adopted Telltale’s Tales From the Borderlands. This recreation gave us our first actual instance of how and why tales inside this franchise matter. Gearbox has by no means wavered from its enjoyable gameplay loop. Nonetheless, it was disappointing when the story of Borderlands 3 missed the mark in so some ways. Return to the fundamentals and provides the tentpole characters some substance.

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Transfer away from Pandora

Pandora has been a personality unto itself in some ways however has overstayed its welcome.

Borderlands 4 could be sensible to introduce a brand-new setting to discover. Judging by the trailer’s caption, it appears Gearbox agrees. As I sit right here, eager about this “all-new planet,” I hope Gearbox can craft a brand new setting on the identical stage as Pandora. Exploration throughout Pandora was half the enjoyable of enjoying via the sequence. Looting and capturing throughout areas just like the Salt Flats and Dahl Headlands, I’ve some nice recollections enjoying with buddies.

Nonetheless, I feel the sequence is in want of a refresh of types. With an all-new planet to discover, it is a phenomenal likelihood for Gearbox to flex its muscle groups in stage design and the creation of environments. It’ll take so much for this new planet to turn into as broadly cherished as Pandora. Although, it is a means to an finish to assist make Borderlands 4 a fantastic looter shooter.

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Optimize Borderlands 4 for the present {hardware}

Gearbox must keep away from launch day woes by prioritizing optimization throughout PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X/S.

Gearbox

I’ll always remember the state Borderland 3 was in at launch. Navigating the menus, even on an Xbox One X on the time, was a slog. Tabbing via the completely different choices would take a number of seconds. Borderlands 3 additionally suffered from poor framerates and shoddy split-screen help. Fortunately, by 2025, Gearbox may have had a very good period of time to work on this subsequent entry.

Primarily based on the teaset trailer, Borderlands 4 will solely be playable on current-gen methods. That ought to bode properly for the event crew as they gained’t should scale their imaginative and prescient again to compensate for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. I’ll have my fingers crossed that Borderlands 4 can reap the benefits of VRR, brief loading occasions, and ray tracing to go with the sport’s iconic cell-shaded look.

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