Borderlands 4is set to continue the series' mainline story, followingBorderlands 3’s final DLC, Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck. While the mainlineBorderlandsseries enjoys a strong central storyline, the largerBorderlandsUniverse features a host of spin-off titles, each exploring an aspect of its established lore. BothNew Tales of the BorderlandsandTiny Tina’s Wonderlandshave been released since the Psycho Krieg DLC, adding new threads to an already-packed narrative. WhileBorderlands 4could follow up on a number of storylines fromBorderlands 3, its greatest potential lies in merging threads from across its larger universe. With so many characters and interwoven storylines ripe for a return, the pieces are in place for anAvengers: Endgamemoment inBorderlands 4.
Borderlands 4has yet to be officially announced, but rumors surrounding the title’s development date back to 2021. Fans have long speculated about what its narrative might entail, asBorderlands 3’s narrative didn’t quite live up to expectations. However,New Tales of the Borderlandsintroduced a dramatic power shift within theBorderlandsUniverse, with multiple major corporations seeing a change in leadership. This shift could have immense ramifications forBorderlands' other storylines, leading to a convergence point for many of its character’s primary arcs.
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Borderlands 4 Could Follow the Watcher’s War
Borderlands 4could follow a host of narrative arcs, andBorderlands 3andNew Tales of Borderlands' major shake-upsset the stage for oneBorderlands: The Pre-Sequelthread to take center stage.Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelsees players stop Tungsteena Zarpedon from destroying Pandora’s Moon, Elpis. When confronted, Zarpedon states that she is attempting to do so because Jack, later the infamous Handsome Jack, seeks to use it to open the planet’s Vault. Zarpedon had been informed by The Watcher, Guardian of Elpis' Vault, that Elpis was the key to unlocking the Grand Vault, unleashing an entity called The Destroyer.
It is clear, after the events ofBorderlands 2andBorderlands 3, that Zarpedon was clearly in the right, asHandsome Jack becomesBorderlands' greatest villainand players discover the Watcher’s warning for themselves. InBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel, The Watcher offers another warning, after saving Athena from a firing squad. According to The Watcher, the galaxy will need all the Vault Hunters it can get for an impending final war. The Watchers War appeared averted by the events ofBorderlands 3. However, massive lore implications fromNew Tales of the Borderlandspave the way for the climactic conflict to take shape, as the series introduced its most powerful source of energy, Anahatium, sentient crystals that give their user power over life and death.
Borderlands 4 is set for an Avengers Endgame Moment
The weaponization of Anahatium introduces an Infinity Stone-like power to theBorderlandsUniverse, providing a natural origin forThe Watcher’s War. WereBorderlands 4to re-introduce this universe-shifting conflict, the title could see the series' most popular NPCs and Vault Hunters return for the ultimate team-up. Given the lore surroundingBorderlands' Vaults, all the pieces are in place for its characters to re-enactAvengers: Endgame’s most memorable scene. Facing the ultimate evil,Borderlands 4’s returning characters could emerge on the battlefield from interdimensional portals in an homage to the famous scene in which Marvel’s “Snapped” heroes emerge on the battlefield.
Borderlands 4’s potential Watcher War could seeBorderlands' previous Vault Hunters featured as playable options. However, withNew Tales' paradigm shift, it remains to be seen which characters could adequately stand up to an Anahatium-infused threat. The green Shard Spirit, freed from its crystalline prison, is currently fused with Rhys' lovable robotic companion TIMM-E, manifesting a mysterious lifeform called The Integrated. WereBorderlands 4’s early narrative to see the green spirit removed from The Integrated, and reunited with its red counterpart, it would take every Vault Hunter in the galaxy to pose even the smallest force of opposition.
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