The Secret Revelation about Borderlands 4 That Fans Already Know!

Highlights

The developer's focus on prioritizing story and gameplay enhancements over the introduction of new playable characters is due to players' limited interest in DLC characters from previous games. Gearbox's consistent decision-making suggests that Borderlands 4 will probably follow the same trend of no playable character DLCs, instead opting for a smaller but more intricate selection of playable options.

Gearbox's lack of communication regarding the development of the next mainline entry in the Borderlands franchise has sparked rumors and speculation about Borderlands 4. Guesses about the release date, plot, and characters have been circulating, but it's important to take unofficial information with a grain of salt. Last year, fans anticipated news about Borderlands 4's development, but both Gearbox and 2K remained silent, disappointing players. However, the release of the spin-off title Tiny Tina's Wonderlands provided potential clues about Borderlands 4's progress. From the DLCs of Borderlands 3 and the launch of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, players may already have an inkling about one aspect of Borderlands 4. Some fans were let down when Gearbox announced that there would be no playable character DLC for Borderlands 3 in 2019, as adding new characters has traditionally been part of the post-launch experience in the Borderlands series. This trend continued in 2022 with the release of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, which also lacked playable characters and plans for cast expansion through DLC. The consistency in this approach over the past few years suggests that Gearbox may take a similar approach in Borderlands 4.

Gearbox's Recent Developmental Patterns Hint at No Playable Characters in DLCs

Gearbox concentrated on enhancing the four original playable Vault Hunters for Borderlands 3 instead of introducing new characters. The decision was based on player data, which showed that gamers tended to stick with their favorite characters from the base game rather than exploring DLC options. To optimize development for the beloved core Vault Hunters, Gearbox introduced new skill trees that expanded their abilities. In the designer's cut update of Borderlands 3, FL4K, Amara, Moze, and Zane received fresh skill trees that introduced unique action skills and powers.

FL4K's update included the Beastmaster Trapper skill tree and the Gravity Snare ability, enabling players to deploy a trap that suspends enemies in mid-air. Additionally, FL4K gained the Hyperion Loaderbot mechanical pet. Amara's skill tree granted her cryo-element enhancements, while her new action skill, Phaseflare, summoned an Orb of Elemental Energy that inflicted continuous elemental damage on enemies. Moze's skill tree, known as the Bear Mother, replaced her Iron Bear mech with the Iron Cub, a smaller mech that wields two of the player's equipped weapons and attacks enemies while deployed. Lastly, Zane gained access to the MNTIS Shoulder Cannon through his Professional skill tree, allowing him to fire the cannon at his crosshairs, stunning enemies and consuming one charge.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands takes a different approach by not offering character options at the initial launch. Instead, it features a character creator section that grants players the freedom to personalize their characters and select from six character classes. Unlike previous installments, there are no core playable characters in the game, further deviating from the Borderlands tradition. It should be noted that Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a spin-off and its mechanics may not have an impact on the main series.

In light of Gearbox's secretive attitude towards Borderlands 4, their recent focus seems to be on enhancing the story and gameplay elements in post-launch content rather than introducing new playable characters. This shift in approach may differ from previous Borderlands games. However, Gearbox's consistent practice over the past few years suggests their comfort with offering a smaller yet more intricate range of playable options. Therefore, it seems likely that Borderlands 4 will continue with the absence of DLC characters as established by the developer in recent times.