The Borderlands series is entering the next round. First hints of a fourth installment in the series are appearing – and a trailer should follow soon.
When thinking of loot shooters with the maximum possible amount of loot and a quirky world, Borderlands inevitably comes to mind. While the first part had relatively little story, the series really picked up pace from the second installment onwards, delivering a great story with some of the best villains of all time.
Almost five years have passed since the release of the last part of the main series, Borderlands 3. Now there are first hints of the next installment.
Borderlands 2 is still considered one of the best loot shooters of all time – also thanks to Handsome Jack:
Multiple Hints for the Release of Borderlands 4
Where does the info come from? The Twitter/X account of the Summer Game Fest has sent a quite clear message into the world, stating:
“2K plans to present the next part of one of their biggest and most beloved franchises at the Summer Game Fest on Friday, June 7.”
This is of course meant to build excitement for the event – at the same time, it’s a clear indication that it could be Borderlands 4.
What speaks for Borderlands 4? During an “Investor’s Call”, Take-Two’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, spoke about Gearbox. The studio was acquired by Take-Two a few months ago, apparently with a clear goal. Zelnick explained:
We have great respect for Randy Pitchford and his team. He has the ability to bring AAA titles to market in a reliable and quite fast speed. And he is a hit-maker. It is very difficult to produce a new hit. And Tiny Tina was a new hit.
The last installment of the Borderlands series was the spin-off “Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands” – and that was another hit for Take-Two. In 2022, it was said that Wonderlands had “exceeded expectations” (via pcgamer.com).
Zelnick further stated that they already identified a future for the Borderlands series:
We have already identified many growth opportunities for the Borderlands series and Gearbox’s catalog and want to pursue these once the studio is integrated into our organization.
What else speaks for it? Currently, a Borderlands movie is in production. This is expected to hit theaters in August this year, barring any delays. Releases of movies and series have often led to increased sales of games in the past (like with the Witcher series or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners). It would only make sense to present a new installment of the series alongside the movie.
However, one should also consider that it might be too early to really expect a release soon. Since Gearbox was only recently acquired, it seems likely that at the Summer Game Fest – if at all – only a teaser for the next Borderlands will be released, and the actual release might still be many months, if not years, away.
What other games could be meant? There is also the possibility that it is not about Borderlands but rather about another game series. After all, 2K has also created other popular series. A new installment in the “BioShock” series or another chapter in the “Mafia” series would also be possible.
Together with Borderlands, these are three popular game series. Even though Borderlands 4 seems the most likely, we will probably only get a final confirmation at the Summer Game Fest on June 7 – as 2K will finally present a trailer then.
Would you be excited for a new Borderlands? Or would you prefer to see a new BioShock or Mafia?
