WhenBorderlands 4comes out in September, it will look much the same as the franchise’s earlier games: four Vault Hunters, one central story, tons of loot, and up to four-person multiplayer. But what’s next for the series? After four successful titles following the same format, it might be time for Gearbox to shake up the formula.
There’s one logical place where the series may go next, and if I’m right, I’m not sure fans will like what’s coming. With a varied roster of 16 playable characters (not counting DLC classes or spinoff games) and an established universe,the next entry after Borderlands 4 might just be a live-service title.
Why The Borderlands Series Is Perfect For Online Multiplayer
The Franchise’s Varied History Makes It The Perfect Candidate For A Live-Service Game
In the past few months, the game industry has seen plenty of live-service games fail or be canceled. This is, in part, due to the oversaturation of the market, butthe recent downfall of several live-action games also rests on their lack of brand identity. Players didn’t know or care about the characters or story inConcord,Sony’s catastrophic live-service title, and there might not be enoughhype behind the upcomingMarathon, potentially dooming the game’s future.
ButBorderlandsis a franchise that’s well-known and much-loved, putting Gearbox a step ahead of the competition right off the bat. The series already has four main games, several spinoff titles, and a name that’s known to gamers and fans. It also has aniconic art style that’s immediately recognizable, which would make it stand out among the sea of other free live-service titles.
It might not make sense to have Vault Hunters from different games fighting against each other, so if a live-serviceBorderlandsgame does happen, it might take its cue fromHelldivers 2and be PvE rather than PvP.
TheBorderlandsgames are known for being fun and hectic shooters that arebetter when played with friends. There arealready 16 playable characters across the four main games, not counting DLC or spinoff game options, and each brings a unique skill tree and playstyle to the table. Each character already has dozens of customization options and recolors, so Gearbox has plenty ofcosmetics to start with, too. The series even has many varied locations, weapons, and even vehicles to draw from for a live-service game.
Releasing A Live-Service Borderlands Game Would Alienate Fans
Fans Don’t Necessarily Want An Online Shooter Version Of Their Beloved Game
As much as a live-service game would make sense for the franchise, it’s not the direction I and many other fans want the series to go. While I love theBorderlandsseries and play every game in split-screen co-op with my husband,I wouldn’t have any interest in a live-service version.As fun (and impossible) as it might be to have Maya fromBL2and FL4K fromBL3team up (our twofavorite characters to playso far in the series), live-service games just don’t have enough of a draw, and I simply don’t have enough time to dedicate to a game that can never be “completed.”
From recent fan reactions to new live-service title announcements, I suspect I’m not the only fan who might be disillusioned if Gearbox decides to takeBorderlandsdown that road. Not only is the overlap between audiences not necessarily large enough to keep a game like that running, but I’d also beconcerned that I would miss out on lore and story points by not keeping up with the game.
Sadly,what fans actually want might not have enough sway over franchise decisions. Earlier this week, Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford commented on some people’s inability to afford the high price of the upcoming game, saying that while the game’s price isn’t his call, “If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen.” This tone-deaf response shows that the franchise will push on to grow and expand in any way its creators see fit, regardless of what fans think.
The seed is already in place, withthe franchise itself seeming to hint at a coming free-for-all shooter. InBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel,the mysterious character The Watcher tells the Vault Hunters that they’re going to “need all the vault hunters you can get.” As much as we might not love to hear this, theBorderlandsfranchise is perfect for a live-service title, and I suspect that’s where the series might head afterBorderlands 4.
