The Game Awards has established itself as one of the biggest events for the entire video game medium. The show comes with awards for the best the art form offers while being a large platform to announce new titles. One of the most anticipated arrivals was Borderlands 4 from the iconic series of open-world shooters.
Fortunately, Randy Pitchford and the rest of Gearbox Software came forward with a new trailer for their upcoming game. Not only did it showcase an impressive sequel, but it has a chance to redeem the series’ reputation.
New Borderlands 4 Trailer
During The Game Awards, Gearbox creator Randy Pitchford arrived to make a huge announcement. He gave fans their first look at Borderlands 4. The trailer began with a well-animated shot of a horde of bandits facing off against an alien-looking army clashing under a glowing, cracked planet. Shortly after, fans return to the series’ iconic cel-shaded animation brought to life with modern graphics. Four unnamed heroes march forward, presumably the playable Vault Hunters.
Immediately, fans are shown many biomes ranging from frigid tundras to ad-heavy cityscapes. The trailer also showcases the deadly alien creatures and armed psychos they will have to face off against. However, players have new tools to fight them with, such as bigger vehicles, grappling hooks, and melee energy weapons. Additionally, Pitchford included a shot of glowing loot raining down from below to give fans what they wanted.
The trailer heavily featured a white-clad man, presumably the main villain, crushing a mask in hand and standing ominously before a Vault. The game’s plot has many possibilities and directions. Without getting into spoilers, the events of Borderlands 3 opened up the series to take place on a galactic scale while adding similar stakes. Borderlands 4 will be released in 2025, and fans can now wishlist the game. Finally, their song choice was “Starburster” by the Irish rock band Fontaines D.C., brilliantly setting the tone.
No Rest for the Wicked
For those unaware, the Borderlands series is a trilogy of open-world first-person shooters from Gearbox Software. The games were critically acclaimed for their unique, cel-shaded art style, endless loot, and hilariously deranged worlds. Borderlands 2 was regarded as one of the best games in its field while introducing one of gaming’s most beloved villains: Handsome Jack. The Telltale spinoff Tales from The Borderlands was considered one of the company’s best.
Furthermore, Borderlands 4 could be a chance for the series to redeem itself. While not despised, many fans dubbed the third game released in 2019 a letdown. However, the series’ reputation was further tanked by the release of the despised Eli Roth film, which brought back terrible video game adaptations. With the franchise’s fate resting on its shoulders, this fourth game has everything to prove. Hopefully, Gearbox will remember why fans became so enamored with their early games.
