Borderlands 4: Are Manufacturer Changes a Blessing or a Curse?

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Summary

  • Borderlands 4 introduces a new Licensed Parts system for weapons, impacting Hyperion and Atlas.
  • Hyperion’s downfall after Borderlands 2 justifies its reduced role in Borderlands 4.
  • Atlas’ diminished presence as weapon parts in Borderlands 4 clashes with its revival in Borderlands 3.

As a fervent admirer, I must say, the hints and previews for Borderlands 4 have left no stone unturned in their quest to redefine the franchise. The changes they’ve introduced seem designed to usher in a fresh chapter for this beloved series. Among these alterations, one of the most intriguing shifts concerns some of its long-standing weapon manufacturers.

In a daring move, Borderlands 4 is introducing new manufacturers into the mix, but that’s not all! They’re also revamping traditional manufacturers using their innovative Licensed Parts system. This system allows guns to incorporate elements from various manufacturers, rather than being limited to one. This concept marks a substantial leap forward for the series, and it seems to have far-reaching implications for both Hyperion and Atlas.

As a gamer diving back into the Borderlands universe with Borderlands 4, I’ve noticed that some familiar names like Hyperion and Atlas are still around, but they’re not quite what we used to know. Instead of seeing weapons directly from these companies, we’ll be finding gear with their parts scattered across the game world. To put it another way, rather than wielding traditional Hyperion or Atlas weapons, Borderlands 4 offers us loot containing pieces from these once-great corporations. From a storytelling perspective, this shift suits Hyperion quite well, given its current state. However, the change for Atlas seems a bit puzzling, considering its significant role in Borderlands 3.

Borderlands 4’s Weapon Shake-Up Makes One Casualty Justifiable, Another Confusing

Hyperion’s Fall Feels Earned After Borderlands 2’s Catastrophe

From a storytelling perspective, it seems more fitting that Hyperion, which suffered severe consequences after Handsome Jack’s defeat in Borderlands 2, such as loss of leadership, structural collapse, and diminished influence, would be reduced to mere parts in Borderlands 4, rather than Atlas. In Tales from the Borderlands, a Hyperion employee named Rhys becomes entangled with Handsome Jack’s AI, leading to a collision between the Helios space station and Pandora, destroying Hyperion’s orbital command center and symbolizing the company’s decline. This catastrophic event suggests that Hyperion is in a state of collapse.

In Borderlands 4, Dahl is not included among the current arms manufacturers, yet their components might still be utilized within the Licensed Parts mechanism.

In Borderlands 3, Hyperion Corporation has significantly diminished its presence. The company no longer serves as an adversary and its products are less prominent compared to manufacturers such as Jakobs, Maliwan, and Atlas. This suggests that by Borderlands 4, Hyperion may have stepped back from the limelight, making their reduced role plausible. If Hyperion is to make a comeback in Borderlands 4, it would be intriguing if they were limited to producing weapon parts only, which seems like an ideal role for them in the next installment of the series.

Atlas Losing Spotlight Clashes With Its Borderlands 3 Revival

Contrarily, the shift of Atlas’ position from a significant player in the corporate world to mere weapon components in Borderlands 4 appears somewhat incongruous following the storyline of the previous installment. In Borderlands 3, players helped Atlas during a major corporate conflict that culminated in its revival under Rhys’ guidance. Given this background, it seems reasonable to anticipate a more prominent role for Atlas as a weapon manufacturer in Borderlands 4. However, the company has surprisingly taken on a lesser role, being reduced to weapon parts, which seems somewhat at odds with its standing in the last game.

From a storytelling perspective, it seems more logical that Hyperion, rather than Atlas, would be reduced to mere components within Borderlands 4, given their previous roles and relationships in the series’ narrative.

In the upcoming game, Borderlands 4, there might be an explanation for why Atlas has a different role this time around. Since it’s been six years since the events of Borderlands 3, we can expect that Borderlands 4 will offer a side story that sheds light on Atlas’ reduced involvement. Fans who have followed the series from the start would likely appreciate some insight into this change rather than having it brushed aside without explanation. While less invested Borderlands players might not be too concerned about the lore behind Atlas’ new role, those who have been with the story since its inception will certainly be looking for a satisfactory explanation.

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2025-05-26 14:35