It has been exactly one month since the Vault Hunters have been roaming the world of Borderlands 3. A lot has happened since release – what works, and what still needs improvement? An initial assessment.
The game primarily delivers what is familiar at launch: Fans of Borderlands have eagerly awaited the third numbered title and the fourth official installment of the Borderlands series. Borderlands, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands The Pre-Sequel have set a high bar.
The series is characterized by numerous loot and skill opportunities, a distinctive graphic style, and quirky humor. All elements that Borderlands 3 also builds upon.
Positive aspects outweigh at launch
This was received positively: In our extensive test of Borderlands 3, our author Leya noticed exactly that: Borderlands 3 doesn’t surprise at any point if you know the predecessors – but it’s still awesome.
The majority of the player base was satisfied with this. After all, that’s what they wanted: More Borderlands. This is also evident in the predominantly positive results of our community survey on Borderlands 3 as well as in the also positive reviews.
Especially praised were the large variety of weapons, some improvements over the predecessors, and the retention of the Borderlands formula. Players are having fun with the game – whether it’s about farming bosses, collecting legendary weapons, or finding funny Easter eggs.
Overall, the mood around Borderlands 3 – especially at launch, but also currently – can be described as positive. However, some criticism points have also arisen alongside the enthusiasm.
This was not so well received: On the one hand, there were scattered voices wishing that Borderlands reinvented itself a bit more strongly than it does in part 3 of the series. There were also some flaws, especially regarding the technical side of the game.
For example, there was criticism regarding the partially shaky performance of the game. There were lags in menus and frame rate drops. Especially the splitscreen mode is lacking in terms of performance. To this day, these issues have not been comprehensively addressed. Although there have been some patches – they have been received more or less mixed.
Patches in Borderlands 3 – This is the mood
This was patched: The patches in Borderlands 3 have mainly dealt with rebalancing the Vault Hunters or some weapons. Among other things:
- Zane was buffed, FL4K nerfed
- Updates to Moze and FL4K
- FL4K and Amara were improved again, Moze nerfed and Zane corrected
Additionally, there was a patch that calmed a yelling boss, and one that changed the popular pipe bomb and brought stability improvements. However, the latter did not resolve all the technical issues that Borderlands 3 has.
This is how the patches were received: The patches are seen as a double-edged sword, trending towards the negative. It causes some frustration in the community that popular play styles are nerfed – some builds are thereby made more difficult or even unplayable. Patches that enhance or improve certain elements are primarily well received – like for example with Zane, who had severe bugs. Weaknesses are generally unpopular in the community.
Many players would rather see technical issues addressed than balancing issues in a game that largely does without PvP. The back and forth of the Vault Hunters causes some frustration.
Story completed, and now? The endgame in Borderlands 3
This is what the endgame in Borderlands 3 offers: A month after release, most players have completed the story in Borderlands 3. And now?
After the story, there is definitely still plenty to do. Borderlands 3 offers:
- The Mayhem Mode with crazy modifiers and random elements
- Challenges like the Ring of Carnage and the Trial Grounds
- The True Vault Hunter Mode
Additionally, there is the opportunity to complete missed side quests or explore the world – for example, to discover unknown locations.
Is that enough in the endgame? It depends. Many players use the endgame opportunities to collect all special weapons or reach the maximum level. However, those who are primarily driven by the story feel somewhat neglected currently. Mainly, there is the option to tackle the True Vault Hunter Mode – which only shows already known scenarios. Hence, there is a segment of players currently standing in the world of Borderlands 3 without too much to do.
What’s next – DLC and updates
What’s next? Borderlands 3 recently launched an event series for the tenth anniversary of the series. The first week made boss fights more lucrative, in the second week, there were more rare enemies. However, these events were mainly for players who are primarily interested in collecting weapons. In the coming weeks, more events will be added:
These will be the major innovations: One can expect completely new content from the Bloody Harvest Event coming at the end of October. It will immerse the world of Borderlands in a spooky atmosphere, bringing new weapons, special missions, and also a new boss. The event will come in the form of a free update – just like the “Maliwan Takedown Event,” which will follow later.
Additionally, a total of four paid story DLCs are included in the season pass. The first DLC will be released later this year and will continue the campaign. However, more detailed information is not yet known.
The conclusion: Overall, the mood around Borderlands 3 can still be considered positive. Players continue to discover new aspects and secrets in the game, which keep it fun in the long run. The Borderlands formula continues to work.
However, there are certainly some critical points that mar the gaming experience. The back and forth with the patches and some technical issues make less happy. Here’s hoping that the technical problems will be resolved. Besides, it is slowly time for new content – after all, Borderlands 3 should also offer much to discover in the long term!
Fortunately, there is soon a new supply! Maybe in the form of this potential raid boss?
