The Unbelievable Twist in Borderlands' Fiona and Sasha Novel Will Leave You Breathless

Highlights

Borderlands: Debt or Alive, an original novel, continues the story of fan-favorite characters Sasha and Fiona from Tales from the Borderlands.

Anthony Burch, the renowned writer of Borderlands 2, makes a triumphant comeback to the franchise, igniting hopes for a resurgence in the series' exceptional storytelling ability. With Burch spearheading the creative endeavors in the novel and potentially in forthcoming ventures, the Borderlands series is poised for a groundbreaking future.

The Borderlands series is famous for its aggressive and eccentric characters, distinct visuals, and looter-shooter gameplay. While the mainline series sticks to the original multiplayer formula, the Borderlands franchise also includes spin-off titles that focus on character relationships and world-building. One such spin-off, Tales from the Borderlands, introduced a variety of new characters, with Sasha and Fiona quickly becoming fan favorites. However, these characters were noticeably absent from the subsequent entry in the series, Borderlands 3, disappointing some fans. Last month, Titan Books announced that it would continue Sasha and Fiona's story in a novel called Borderlands: Debt or Alive, which serves as a prequel to Tales of the Borderlands 2. The most exciting part of this announcement, however, was when Titan revealed the author of Debt or Alive.

Tales of the Borderlands is a five-part episodic adventure game developed by Telltale Games. Its story takes place immediately following the dramatic events of Borderlands 2, where Handsome Jack's attempt to manipulate the Vault Hunters into opening Pandora's vault and releasing the Destroyer is foiled. The game follows Rhys, a Hyperion executive aiming to fill Jack's shoes, and Fiona, a con artist on the hunt for the ultimate score. While Rhys climbs the ranks to become CEO of Atlas, it is revealed that Fiona is the one listening to Marcus' narration in New Tales of Borderlands. At the end of New Tales, Fiona embarks on a journey to the Gladiolus Nebula in search of the Shard Spirit.

Borderlands' Fiona and Sasha Novel Marks the Return of Anthony Burch

Anthony Burch, the lead writer of Borderlands 2, is making a comeback in the franchise with Borderlands: Debt or Alive, as announced by Titan Books. Borderlands 2 is widely recognized as the best installment in the series and remains one of the fastest and best-selling games ever released by 2K Games. While fans were pleasantly surprised by the return of Fiona and Sasha, the most exciting aspect of the novel is undoubtedly that it is written by Anthony Burch. The quality of the Borderlands series noticeably declined between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3, but Burch's return sets the stage for a return to that same level of quality.

After leaving Gearbox Software, the developer of Borderlands, Anthony Burch went on to write for the Hulu streaming series Rocketjump: The Show. However, he has still been involved in the gaming world. Although not the head writer, he provided consultation for both Tales and New Tales of the Borderlands, wrote the core narrative for Battleborn, and contributed as a writer for God of War Ragnarok. His role as the lead writer for Borderlands: Debt or Alive marks his return to a Borderlands project. This development has led fans to speculate that Burch may have a greater role in the future of the series.

Burch's Return May Herald the Future of the Borderlands Series

Anthony Burch, known for his work on popular Borderlands titles such as Borderlands 2 and Tales of the Borderlands, is highly regarded for his storytelling abilities and the compelling narratives he creates. However, Borderlands 3's villains and overall storytelling have been criticized as one of its weaknesses.

The upcoming release, Borderlands: Debt or Alive, is said to be the official prequel to the yet-to-be-announced Tales of the Borderlands 2. Anthony Burch's involvement in this project suggests that he may be the head author of the highly anticipated title.

Expected to hit shelves in March 2024, Borderlands: Debt or Alive is likely to have a significant impact on the future of Borderlands gaming. It may even lead to the official announcement of Tales of the Borderlands 2. With Anthony Burch returning as the head writer, fans can be optimistic about the series' future. Until more details are revealed, many are eagerly looking forward to discovering the further adventures of Fiona and Sasha in Borderlands: Debt or Alive.

Tales from the Borderlands is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.