Borderlands 3 vs. Borderlands 4

Rumors about Borderlands 4 have been circulating for a long time, mostly because of the suspenseful ending of Borderlands 3. Moreover, Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford teased the idea when promoting the Borderlands movie. Finally, the franchise’s developers officially announced the game at the Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, settling the rumors.

Borderlands 3 received a positive reception, but many in the gaming community feel that it has overdone some of its features. Fortunately, exciting improvements and changes are expected in the upcoming game, although details are still scanty. So, what is the comparison of Borderlands 4 vs. Borderlands 3?

What is Borderlands 3?

Borderlands 3 is the third mainline instalment in the Borderlands looter-shooter series. It is a continuation of the original game’s overall concept, where Vault Hunters go on diverse missions, fight enemies, and collect loot.

In Borderlands 3, the Vault Hunters are on a main mission to stop the Calypso Twins from uniting the bandit clans and using them to steal the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. The game also introduces a few new features, including new worlds beyond Pandora and more guns. However, there wasn’t much in the game that was distinctly different from the other first two entries.

What is Borderlands 4?

Borderlands 4 is the fourth mainline instalment in the Borderlands series. It was recently announced at Gamescom 2024. However, it is still under development and is scheduled to launch in 2025.

Interestingly, the game’s announcement came shortly after the release of the Borderlands movie, which performed dismally at the Box Office. As such, many in the gaming and film communities think that Borderland 4’s announcement is meant as a distraction from the movie’s terrible reviews. Unfortunately, there may be some truth to the speculations, especially considering that the developer didn’t share much information about the new game’s features.

Story

A story is one of the crucial things missing from the recent official announcement of Borderlands 4. However, it is expected that the game will pick up from where Borderlands 3 left off.

The story in Borderlands 3 involves the Vault Hunters trying to stop the Calypso twins from uniting the bandit factions and harnessing the powers and treasures in the Vaults hidden across the galaxy. It ends with Lilith sacrificing herself to save Pandora by shutting down Elpis. She launches herself at the moon, teleporting it to unknown space and leaving it with a large Firehawk emblem. But h0w does this storyline in Borderlands 3 vs. Borderlands 4 compare?

Interestingly, the Borderlands 4 teaser trailer features scenes of events that unfold immediately after the ending of Borderlands 3. It also features scenes of a new planet. As such, it is highly likely that the upcoming game’s story will tie into Borderland 3’s plot and evolve. However, it will likely feature a time gap similar to the one between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3.

Moreover, the Eridians could also play a bigger role in the new game’s story, based on clues in the teaser trailer. The Eridians are the ancient alien race behind the Vaults. Although they are believed to be largely extinct, they usually make rare appearances towards the end of Borderlands games. As such, learning more about them would be exciting.

Character

Borderlands games usually feature new and old characters. Lilith, from the race of Sirens, is the main character and one of the protagonists in Borderlands 3. Twins Troy and Tyreen Calypso are the main antagonists, filling the vacuum left by the iconic character Handsome Jack. Other notable characters include Brick, Maya, Claptrap, and Mordecai, among others.

Unfortunately, the announcement for Borderlands 4 didn’t specify which characters to expect. Many gamers speculate that Lilith will return based on the previous game’s ending and clues in the teaser trailer. Moreover, there is a wild theory that Handsome Jack could also make a comeback, but Randy Pitchford shot them down. However, the verdict is still out on whether or not Lilith will return.

Gameplay

Borderland 3’s gameplay is similar to the series’ core gameplay, except for a few minor changes. The gameplay mostly involves action as Lilith and the Vault Hunters fight the Calypso twins and other enemies. As usual, players can unlock a bewildering array of weapons with incredible customizations. Additionally, players can collect loot, such as weapons, ammo, and special perks from dead enemies. Moreover, players can customize and upgrade their characters.

Besides action, the gameplay in Borderlands 3 also involves lots of exploration and adventure. Players explore new planets when they leave Pandora to look for Vaults elsewhere across the galaxy. The adventure is fun and immersive, thanks to the game’s sharp graphics.

Storytelling is also a crucial aspect of the Borderlands 3 gameplay. The story unfolds dramatically as the Vault Hunters explore and investigate. Interestingly, it ends in suspense, setting the stage for another intriguing story in Borderlands 4.

Borderlands’ gameplay mechanics rarely change from one game to the next. Interestingly, the developers add more new features to the game’s spinoffs than the mainline games. As such, gamers don’t expect many or significant changes in Borderlands 4. Ideally, players will go on a rampage as they loot and shoot their way across the galaxy in search of villains and Vaults. The game’s overall gameplay will involve fighting, adventure, character customization, and storytelling.

However, the developers have promised to bring the series’ best features together in Borderlands 4. “All of us at Gearbox have massive ambitions for Borderlands 4 and are putting everything we have into making everything we love about Borderlands better than ever before while taking the game to new levels in exciting new directions,” says Randy Pitchford.

Verdict

Unfortunately, Gearbox hasn’t shared enough information about Borderlands 4 to make a definitive verdict on how it compares to Borderlands 3. As such, it is still too early to tell whether the game will be better or worse. However, expectations are high, considering how much the developers have hyped the upcoming game. Gearbox promises to share more information soon, and the game will likely launch in the fall of 2025.

So, what’s your take on our comparison of Borderlands 3 vs. Borderlands 4? Let us know on our socials here or in the comments below.