Key Takeaways
-
Borderlands 4
is confirmed for 2025, featuring a powerful new villain “more sinister than Handsome Jack.” - The trailer hints at an Eridian or Guardian-type antagonist, which could lead to a potential new Vault Hunter.
- Playing as an Eridian/Guardian Hunter in
Borderlands 4
would offer opportunities for new abilities and lore.
Five years after the third mainline entry, Borderlands 4 is confirmed. Developer Gearbox Software officially announced Borderlands 4 at Gamescom earlier this year, giving fans a long-awaited taste of what might be coming in the next outing, and stated that it is set for a 2025 release window. While this was great news for those who had been eagerly awaiting updates, it naturally raises the question of how exactly the studio envisions to usher the seminal looter-shooter franchise into its next phase, and to address some of the outstanding plot and character points.
While many details are currently vague, there was one big inclusion in the trailer for Borderlands 4 in the form of a new antagonistic force. As a storm of meteors falls onto a planet, a robotic hand reaches out and grips a psycho mask. Based on this, it might imply the next villain will possibly be an Eridian, a Guardian, or something closely related. If so, this could in turn lead to the introduction of an Eridian or Guardian Vault Hunter for the next leg of the tale.
Related
Borderlands 4’s Villain Isn’t the Only Big Takeaway From Its Reveal
While fans have been quick to jump on theories about the potential identity of Borderlands 4’s villain, the trailer revealed something else as well.
Borderlands 4’s Menacing Villain Could Lead to the Introduction of an Eridian or Guardian-Type Vault Hunter
Borderlands 4’s Villain is Promised to Be its Most Threatening Yet
Borderlands 2‘s Handsome Jack is widely considered one of gaming’s greatest villains. In fact, Jack was so effective and popular that the series has often struggled to make an impact with some of its other antagonists since. There was some initial thought that Jack might therefore return for Borderlands 4. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford debunked this, however, stating that the new enemy will be “more powerful and more sinister” than Jack.
With clues pointing to the next entry’s big bad potentially being an Eridian or one of their imposing Guardian constructs, this would mean a big step-up in terms of foes that fans previously faced. If the new threat in Borderlands 4 is indeed as dangerous as it has been made out to be, especially if it turns out to be Eridian-related, then it might require an equally capable Vault Hunter.
Each entry has also usually featured one of
Borderlands
‘ arms dealers
as a secondary villain, though it is unclear yet whether this will continue to be the case in
Borderlands 4
given what has been shown so far.
Borderlands 4 Has Good Reasons to Feature a Guardian or Eridian-Based Vault Hunter
As the series fleshed out and expanded its plotlines, it divulged more about the ancient Eridian civilization and the mark they left on the galaxy. The Eridians factor hugely into the world of Borderlands, and one long-teased element, the Watcher’s War, still looms over established events. Whether the War itself will be central to Borderlands 4 is still uncertain, but it does look like the latest threat will eclipse any that has been seen so far. With the stakes seemingly higher than ever before, the stage is set for bringing in either an Eridian or Guardian Vault Hunter to complement the villain and add a new dynamic to the roster.
Allowing fans to play as a Guardian or Eridian could serve to further multiple angles. Doing so would be a natural way to explain more lore of the Eridians and reveal their ultimate goal and plan for the universe. A Hunter of this origin would ostensibly have a more direct connection to and vested interest in preventing the new villain’s plans, too. This may then let Borderlands 4 show a whole other side to the Eridians, after previously covering them in a curtain of mystery.
Playing as such a Hunter would also open up a range of possibilities for fun and unique new abilities, something the series has always strived to do. Borderlands 4 could capitalize on the chance to let fans play as an Eridian and/or Guardian hunter, and bring some fresh ideas to the table while offering more insight into their nature and agendas as the greater story continues in the fourth game.
See if you have what it takes to go down in history as a legendary Vault Hunter as you search for secret alien treasure, blasting everything in sight.
Looter Shooter
Action
Adventure
RPG
- Franchise
- Borderlands
- Released
- 2025