Summary
- Borderlands 4's release is anticipated by fans, but Gearbox has been tight-lipped. A recent Twitter video hints at a new entry.
- Borderlands 4 faces challenges in surpassing Handsome Jack's villainy and addressing unanswered questions from BL3.
- Commander Steele, a mysterious character, raises questions about her Siren powers, which could be explored in Borderlands 4's story.
Borderlands 4 is in a strange situation because most fans are rightfully just assuming it's going to be released sometime in the near future despite Gearbox being tight-lipped about its status. There is a strong chance that it will be announced soon, however, as the company recently shared a video on Twitter recapping the story of the franchise so far - something that does seem to be hinting at a new entry. Still, there are many questions left unanswered after the events of BL3, and the sequel is not guaranteed to explain just about everything that was left hanging. Borderlands 4's villain still has the bar left by Handsome Jack's legacy to clear, its Vault Hunters have some challenges to face, and a character from the first game remains a mystery.
Borderlands 4's Siren is in a lose-lose situation, for example, as the pattern so far means a new playable Siren is coming, but Gearbox has limited choice when it comes to their powers. On top of that, there are some burning questions that deserve to be addressed at some point, such as what exactly is The Watcher's war mentioned in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel or what happened to Lilith at the end of BL3. Likewise, Borderlands' Commander Steele remains one of the most enigmatic characters in the franchise, and answers seem unlikely at this point.
Borderlands' Commander Steel is a Chekhov's Gun That Never Was Shot
Borderlands' Commander Steele and The Destroyer are Two Sides of the Same Coin
The big problem with Commander Steele's story in the original Borderlands is that it ended before the character could do anything significant other than scripted events, despite her being the main antagonist of the game. She met her demise at the hands (or rather, tentacles) of Borderlands' The Destroyer - one of the most disappointing boss fights in the history of video games due to it providing no meaningful loot after all the expectations set by the game.
Commander Steele was one of Borderlands' Sirens based on the tattoos she had on her chest and arm, but she was never seen using her Siren powers in any circumstances, not even against The Destroyer, posing the question of whether she was truly a Siren and what her powers were, if so. The Sirens of Borderlands' universe operate under a series of specific rules, as there cannot be more than six of them at any given time, and whenever one dies, someone else inherits her powers. As such, Commander Steele being a Siren means she could have had the powers of other Sirens shown in the games - or new ones entirely.
Why and How Borderlands 4 Can Answer a Big Lingering Mystery
Borderlands' Sirens and Commander Steele's Powers
In fact, five Siren powers have been shown so far:
- Phasewalk - Lilith
- Phaselock - Maya, Troy Calypso (temporarily), Ava
- Phaseshift - Angel, Tannis
- Phasatrance - Amara
- Phaseleech - Nyriad, Tyreen Calypso
If Commander Steele had one of the existing powers, it couldn't have been Lilith's Phasewalk because she was alive at the same time as her. It likely wasn't Phaseshift either, as Angel had the power since she was a child, as shown in Borderlands 3's Handsome Jack-themed mission. For all that players know, it could have been the sixth yet-to-be-revealed power, and BL4 has a chance to explain this.
Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters and story could in some way be tied to Commander Steele, mentioning her in passing and explaining what sort of Siren she was and why she didn't use her powers. Commander Steele is not a big enough character to be remembered for years to come as the franchise evolves, but there are secrets surrounding her that may be worth delving into whenever the next chapter in the story comes out.
Borderlands 3
- Released
- September 13, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and an all-new mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four brand new Vault Hunters – the ultimate treasure-seeking badasses of the Borderlands, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization. Play solo or join with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy.
A MAYHEM-FUELED THRILL RIDE
Stop the fanatical Calypso Twins from uniting the bandit clans and claiming the galaxy’s ultimate power. Only you, a thrill-seeking Vault Hunter, have the arsenal and allies to take them down.
YOUR VAULT HUNTER, YOUR PLAYSTYLE
Become one of four extraordinary Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities, playstyles, deep skill trees, and tons of personalization options. All Vault Hunters are capable of awesome mayhem alone, but together they are unstoppable.
LOCK, LOAD, AND LOOT
With bazillions of guns and gadgets, every fight is an opportunity to score new gear. Firearms with self-propelling bullet shields? Check. Rifles that spawn fire-spewing volcanoes? Obviously. Guns that grow legs and chase down enemies while hurling verbal insults? Yeah, got that too.
NEW BORDERLANDS
Discover new worlds beyond Pandora, each featuring unique environments to explore and enemies to destroy. Tear through hostile deserts, battle your way across war-torn cityscapes, navigate deadly bayous, and more! QUICK & SEAMLESS CO-OP ACTION
Play with anyone at any time online or in split-screen co-op, regardless of your level or mission progress. Take down enemies and challenges as a team, but reap rewards that are yours alone – no one misses out on loot.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Franchise
- Borderlands
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
- Metascore
- 91
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-4 Players
