Borderlands 4 will expand the great variety of weapons that the series is known for. What do the developers have to say about it?
The Borderlands series is known as a typical example of a “looter-shooter”. Shoot, collect, level up, improve, shoot more – it’s a very simple, but quite fun principle in the Borderlands games,
Since the first game, the series has featured an unbelievable number of, and sometimes incredibly silly, weapons. The creativity in the firearms is something that makes the series special for many fans. And this tradition will continue in the new installment.
In an interview published by the Epic Games Store, various members of the Borderlands team discuss the weapon variety in the new game. Art Director Adam May mentions that the upcoming Borderlands 4 is expected to offer a whopping 30 billion weapons.
But why? And how does it work?
In Borderlands 4, you mix weapons like never before
How are so many weapons created? Borderlands utilizes procedural generation. Just as No Man’s Sky continuously creates new planets in the universe, Borderlands creates various weapons.
This year, however, there’s another component: the weapons can be partially mixed. Typically, there are specific weapon manufacturers in Borderlands, each with their own quirks. Torgue weapons explode, Vladof has large magazines, Maliwan focuses on elemental damage – and so on.
This time, however, there is the “Licensed Parts System,” where weapons from different manufacturers are mixed: “You can mount a Daedalus under-barrel on a Maliwan shotgun, and suddenly you have Daedalus and Maliwan in the same weapon,” May says.
It’s going to get even more creative – and this time there are 8 manufacturers available: Order, Ripper, Daedalus, Tediore, Maliwan, Jakobs, Vladof, and Torgue.
What else is changing? Heavy weapons, as well as grenades, will have their own weapon slots in the new game. In the interview, Anthony Nicholson from Gearbox says: “The player can choose how they want to proceed, and heavy weapons no longer occupy a weapon slot. This way, you can use more firearms.”
Why so many weapons? The idea is that players want to upgrade constantly, want to get better, and seek variety. This is a core element of the games, and therefore, a lot of combinations are possible. Additionally, players frequently toss weapons away or sell them.
“What draws players to this series so irresistibly? There are certain constants. We are aware that the dynamics of this kind of equipment and loot system will evolve, but fundamentally, we had exactly this dynamic in the first game,” Nicholson states.
How does this amount of weapons play? We should find out soon, as the release of the new looter-shooter is already scheduled for September. Then we can finally try out what the new Vault Hunters can do. Want to see who the new characters are? Then check this out: All new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4.
