One Borderlands 4 Writer Might Just Be Its Secret Weapon

Borderlands 4 is set to launch this Fall, on September 23. Following the previous mainline entry in 2019, the upcoming installment looks to be taking a turn from some of its and the franchise’s overall past sensibilities in terms of narrative and tone. Based on what members of developer Gearbox have stated, Borderlands 4 will be moving away from much of the lower-brow and meme-based content that it usually contains in favor of a more modern and mature angle.

In previous comments, Borderlands 4‘s narrative director, Sam Winkler, noted it will not make use of “toilet humor” in the way prior titles have, particularly the third. Borderlands 2 is often considered the best in the series, and its mix of comedy with strong story and character development resulted in a well-told tale that still contains a good amount of levity to break up its more somber moments. Back in December 2024, writer Miles Luna announced that he had been tapped to help pen Borderlands 4. And given his catalog of work, this is an encouraging sign that BL4 is set to strike the right balance in the upcoming adventure.

Related

Borderlands 4’s Approach to Toilet Humor is a Step in the Right Direction, But It Can’t Walk Too Far

It looks like Borderlands will be growing up with its fourth mainline entry, which is good, but Gearbox shouldn’t take things too far.

Miles Luna Writing For Borderlands 4 Could Be the Secret Ingredient that Elevates It

Miles Luna’s Record Bodes Well For His Contribution to Borderlands 4

For those unfamiliar, Miles Luna was the Head Writer of Animation at Rooster Teeth Productions, the studio responsible for the classic Halo machinima series, Red vs. Blue. While it started as something of a parody, the show soon developed a deep lore and explored the emotions and psyches of its collection of compelling characters. Luna wrote seasons 11-13 of Red vs. Blue, which were all well-received and kept up the series’ established brand of humor along with engaging and meaningful narratives.

In addition to his work on Red vs. Blue, Luna co-wrote for and directed other critically and commercially successful shows, including Chibi, Camp Camp, and RWBY; with the last notably being the first western anime that was dubbed and broadcast on TV in Japan. Luna also provides the voice for a number of characters in each series, like Felix in Red vs. Blue.

In 2020, he departed Rooster Teeth to pursue other opportunities, and has since worked on games in both the AAA and indie sectors, most recently Kill It with Fire 2. Luna has said that he’s a longtime fan of the Borderlands series as well. His experience with the above and the enthusiasm he brings to the project are great indications that Borderlands 4 will be able to deliver a strong narrative that incorporates recognizable elements of the series while moving it forward in a new direction.

Miles Luna Could Help Borderlands 4’s Story Strike a Satisfying Balance Between Serious and Silly

Borderlands 4 looks to have a lot on its plate in terms of plot threads. It will need to bridge the gap between the events of Borderlands 3, especially regarding the fate of Lilith, while introducing its latest villain, The Timekeeper, the new planet of Kairos, and their role in the next adventure. With the promise that Borderlands 4 will be going into darker and more mature tones, Miles Luna seems a great fit to realize this vision.

Gearbox acknowledging that some of Borderlands‘ previous comedic styles didn’t always land or hold up is a welcome sign. By bringing Miles Luna on board for the upcoming entry, combined with Sam Winkler’s statements, it seems like the studio has built a talented team with the skills to ensure that Borderlands 4 is on track to provide an emotionally satisfying story that also has plenty of moments of great humor.

Borderlands 4

Released

September 23, 2025

ESRB

Rating Pending

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer

Cross-Platform Play

Yes – all