The highly anticipated next chapter in the Borderlands saga, film with a 10% Rotten Tomatoes score, fans are desperate for a quality Borderlands experience.
With so many great features from previous Borderlands entries to build on, players want to see how Gearbox will take those aspects of the games and improve, build, and revolutionize the gameplay in Borderlands 4. Here are 10 features vault hunters desperately want to see in Borderlands 4 when it releases next year.
10 Fresh & Immersive Environments Can Help Borderlands 4 Stand Out
Vault Hunters Want To See A New World
Every vault hunter re what it was like to step on Pandora for the first time in Borderlands. There was a feeling of excitement and awe as players would explore the wasteland, indulging in the dark hilarity and novelty of the universe. The spaghetti western cyberpunk vibes and sci-fi loot box-driven gameplay felt original and fresh in ways that have proven difficult to replicate. While Borderlands 2, Borderlands 3, and the various spin-offs certainly harnessed a similar atmosphere, Pandora feels like old news by the time players reach the climax of the final installment to date.
Based on the new planet seen in the trailer, Borderlands 4 will likely take the opportunity to start with a clean slate and finally get players off Pandora to explore the larger universe of Borderlands. Vault hunters want to see a new world that feels as immersive and fresh as Pandora felt in the first Borderlands, and they want to feel excited while exploring the new environments.
9 Balanced Skill Trees Can Make Or Break Game Balance
Gearbox Needs To Be Careful When Adding More Branches To Skill Trees
With each new iteration of the game, Borderlands' skill trees have undergone an evolution, for better or worse. Overall, the skill tree system is an enjoyable aspect, but Borderlands 2 seems to be the sweet spot when it comes to how impactful skill trees are on the players' experiences as they level up. While Borderlands 3 offered more branches to these skill trees, there were still only four classes of vault hunter to choose from.
10 Most Likely Borderlands 4 Predictions
The Borderlands 4 teaser trailer doesn't reveal much, but it's enough to spawn multiple predictions for the next game in the franchise.
Adding more branches to skill trees will only satisfy players if it balances the combat and narrative experience, so Gearbox will need to keep this in mind while developing character classes for Borderlands 4. Hopefully, the next game will be similar to the skill trees in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, which offered significant balance when compared to players' combat experiences in each respective class.
8 Raid Bosses Are Perfect For Borderlands' Focus On Co-Op Multiplayer
They Add To The Replay Value And Encourage Cooperative Play
Though some players will avoid the incredibly difficult raid bosses at all costs, a vast majority appreciate the challenge and enjoy teaming up with other vault hunters to take down monstrosities such as Scourge the Invincible Martyr. It'll be interesting to see whether raid bosses will be part of Borderlands 4's base game, such as Terramorphous in Borderlands 2, or if they will be reserved exclusively for DLC releases like Borderlands 3.
Raid bosses offer a rewarding and exciting endgame experience, and often drop top-tier, best-in-slot loot. They also add to the replay value, and crucially, encourage cooperative play. Borderlands' gameplay overall is built for a multiplayer experience, and raid bosses are a great example of playing to the game's strengths.
7 Gun Mods & Crafting Can Provide Endless Variety
This Would Revolutionize The Weapon System
While it may seem like the randomness of loot drops is the main thing Borderlands has going for it, there is a real opportunity for Borderlands 4 to revolutionize the weapon system in the game by allowing players to break down their guns and build from scrapped parts via a workbench or crafting station of some sort. While some players, like YouTuber Ki11er Six, think this would be a terrible idea, there would need to be a balance in how the system is implemented against the loot-driven mechanics of the game.
It doesn't necessarily mean a complete overhaul of the loot drop system, and would need to be an improvement to what already exists in Borderlands 3. If players could customize existing weapons or craft their own from scrap parts, as described by YouTuber VII HIPPER, the possibilities would be virtually endless, adding the ability for players to create their own unique, personalized guns.
6 A Dialogue-Skipping Feature Would Help Replayability
Fans Are Hopeful For This Feature To Be Implemented
While the story for Borderlands 4 will need to be powerful and interesting, once players have completed their first run through the game, sitting through the same dialogue they've already experienced becomes incredibly boring and repetitive. This can result in hours of standing around waiting for dialogue to wrap up, and detracts from the replay value of the game.
It's unclear whether a dialogue-skipping feature is even on Gearbox's radar, but ultimately it would balance the game's story with the player's experience overall. Replayability will likely be a major focus for developers of Borderlands 4, so fans are hopeful for this feature to be implemented.
5 High-Quality Writing Can Redeem The Borderlands Series' Story
Borderlands 4 Writers Have Big Shoes To Fill
The early success of the Borderlands games was due in part to its hilariously dark, twisted storytelling and character development. Borderlands 4 writers over at Gearbox have big shoes to fill, and fans will be eager for more of that Wild West gallows humor that the franchise is famous for. While it may be slightly subjective, fans tend to agree that the writing in Borderlands 2 and Tales from the Borderlands sets a precedent in of humorous content, strong character development, and overall solid plot arc.
While it may be slightly subjective, fans tend to agree that the writing in Borderlands 2 and Tales from the Borderlands sets a precedent in of humorous content, strong character development, and overall solid plot arc.
Because the bar is so high, writing in the next game should try to avoid feeling campy or overly cartoonish. However, outside the comedic and witty aspects of dialogue and character development, narrative designers at Gearbox will want to start thinking about the many loose ends for various plots in the franchise that are starting to overwhelm the Borderlands fan base, which leads to the next entry on this list.
4 Closure Can Wrap Up Some Enduring Borderlands Mysteries
Fans Are Waiting For Multiple Answers
Over the years, Gearbox has supplied fans with a rich catalog of Borderlands games, but each story leaves many questions more or less unanswered. At some level, this is tolerable (and even exciting), but ultimately, Borderlands 4 needs to prove it's not stringing players along. This means providing answers to various loose ends, such as the Watcher, introduced in the Pre-Sequel, who fans expected at least a nod to but were ultimately left hanging in Borderlands 3.
Additionally, Borderlands 4 will need to address Lilith's disappearance and clarify whether she is still alive. Lilith's fate is likely to be a major part of the next installment, but fans are also curious about the Tales from the Borderlands characters, Rhys and Fiona, as well as the Calypso twins from Borderlands 3. Not to mention the whereabouts of all the beloved vault hunters from Borderlands 2, the Pre-Sequel, and more.
3 Borderlands Needs To Return With A Powerful Story
The Narrative Needs To Keep Players Engaged
While this list has touched on the importance of quality writing in Borderlands 4, there are high expectations for the story itself, an area that was lacking in Borderlands 3. The narrative will need to keep players engaged and avoid becoming predictable, much like Borderlands 2 or Tales from the Borderlands in how they managed to surprise players with meaningful plot points, such as Roland's death at the hands of Handsome Jack.
The major plot points, and even the side quests and their resolutions, should feel impactful in a way that makes players eager to advance through the game and discover what's next. With the vast number of quests, side quests, NPCs, loot drop areas, etc., that Borderlands games all contain, those elements should feel like they are there for a reason, not just to fill space.
2 Remarkable Characters & Vault Hunters Need To Be Featured Throughout
The Next Game Needs To Rely On Nostalgia While Also Bringing In New Characters
Behind every powerful story are powerful characters, and Borderlands is no exception. Fans will expect to see many of the canonical heroes of the franchise resurface, and it would appear from the teaser trailer that some twisted version of Handsome Jack will likely be a key part of Borderlands 4. However, the next game will not be able to rely on nostalgia alone, and new, interesting characters will be crucial to the game's success.
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Players will want to see new vault hunters with new abilities and cool, interesting backstories. NPCs will need to be well-rounded and mostly hilarious, even if they only appear in the game for one or two quests. This attention to detail is what fans are looking for in the long-awaited Borderlands 4.
1 Claptrap & Steve ("Heyooo!") Must Return In Borderlands 4
Elements From Previous Games Will Hopefully Be Included And Improved
Love him or hate him, nobody can ignore the iconic hilarity and personality that Claptrap adds to the franchise. There's no denying that the tragically arrogant, existentially conflicted little robot is an integral part of the Borderlands experience. And who could forget Steve, Borderlands' most beloved, confetti-rocket wielding NPC and man of few words?
Players will also want a powerful story, and well-written characters that come across as humorous in a twisted, witty, Borderlands-fashioned way.
At the end of the day, elements from previous games will hopefully be included and improved, alongside new features that enhance the vault-hunting experience from top to bottom. Players will also want a powerful story, and well-written characters that come across as humorous in a twisted, witty, Borderlands-fashioned way. There is also hope for improvements to the gameplay, such as a dialogue-skipping feature or weapon customization. As Borderlands 4 ramps up for its 2025 release, fans will be on the lookout for what Gearbox has in store.
Sources: YouTube (Borderlands, Ki11er Six, VII HIPPER)
Borderlands 4
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Rating Pending
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes - all
- Prequel(s)
- Borderlands
In Borderlands 4, players assume the role of a legendary Vault Hunter, exploring a new planet in search of secret alien treasures.
- Franchise
- Borderlands
- Platform(s)
- PC
