Borderlands 4: The End of Cringe and the Rebirth of Crude Comedy?

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The much-anticipated Borderlands 4 is nearly here, and it might mark a significant milestone for the franchise. While its gameplay appears set to continue the series’ signature, chaotic looter shooter style, it could make a substantial impact through its dialogue and overall atmosphere.

It’s well-known that the Borderlands series has faced criticism for its dialog and humor that can be painfully awkward and cringe-worthy at times. Many people found the first two games acceptable, while Tales from the Borderlands was highly praised for its writing skills. Unfortunately, Borderlands 3 seems to have fallen short, as its dialog is often a mix of juvenile humor and forced jokes that seem overly eager to be funny. Fortunately, it appears that the narrative director for Borderlands 4 has plans to reduce the amount of “toilet humor” in the game, which could help improve its overall success.

Winkler additionally discussed the cultural references in Borderlands, humorously mentioning that he might shed genuine tears if the term “Skibidi” made an appearance in the game, as it reminds him of the Skibidi Toilet meme that has gained immense popularity among younger groups.

Why Borderlands 4’s Reworked Tone Is Doubly Important

Borderlands 3’s Humor Was Rough, but the Borderlands Movie Was Cataclysmic

Despite the fact that it doesn’t completely salvage the game’s reputation, numerous players of Borderlands 3 have proposed a solution for those disgruntled with its dialogue: essentially, tune it out. Many find playing Borderlands 3 muted, with music or a podcast in the background, to be an effective remedy for those tired of its awkward writing, and this seems to alleviate the issue for many – after all, Borderlands 3’s gameplay is quite strong. However, this temporary fix may not work for a movie, although many who saw Eli Roth’s Borderlands adaptation last year might have benefited from such an option.

The quality of video game adaptations into movies has long been questionable, but the Borderlands film received a significant amount of negative feedback, even among films that are generally disliked. Critics pointed out its chaotic and unoriginal plot, poor action sequences, and stiff acting as reasons for viewers to avoid it. However, the signature humor from the Borderlands 3 game was present, but it didn’t help improve the franchise’s image following the release of Borderlands 3. The portrayals of characters like Tiny Tina and Claptrap were particularly criticized for their forced and uncomfortable attempts at humor.

Borderlands 4 Will Have to Toe the Line Between Annoying and Boring

The offbeat humor found in the past Borderlands games is a significant aspect that defines the series. From its debut game, Borderlands has always maintained a playful, less formal tone by incorporating ample amounts of lightheartedness into its universe. For Borderlands 4 to succeed, it should steer clear of overly forced pop-culture references and awkward humor from BL3 and the film, but at the same time, it might be crucial for it to preserve its knack for humorous, childlike antics.

It may seem straightforward to maintain the tone for Borderlands 4, but there’s a good chance that Gearbox will strive to find a balance in doing so. Although Sam Winkler mentioned reducing the amount of bathroom humor and pop culture references, he also hinted at the possibility of its continued presence, implying an awareness of the series’ humorous nature. Ultimately, fans will have to observe how Borderlands 4 shapes the franchise’s identity as it progresses.

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2025-05-14 04:09