Borderlands Mobile was a surprise release, and it’s proving to be surprisingly fun. Developed by Zynga, the game offers smooth first-person shooting and feels a lot like playing Borderlands on a console or PC. The shooting and collecting loot is enjoyable, the game retains the series’ signature humor (though some lines are borrowed from Borderlands 3), and the art style perfectly captures the look of the original games. While it’s not perfect, there’s definitely potential for further improvements.
Even now, Borderlands Mobile is doing well. Letting players constantly upgrade their gear means they can keep their favorite legendary weapons indefinitely, which is great. Plus, the initial raid bosses and game modes like Circles of Slaughter are a big success, as these features have been missing from the main Borderlands games. Of course, no game is perfect, and there are a few things Gearbox could improve while the game is offline before it returns to app stores.
Borderlands Mobile’s testing period ends on April 28, with its full release date currently unknown.
Borderlands Mobile’s Monetization Hopefully Won’t Be Predatory
A major question surrounding Borderlands Mobile is how much it will cost to play. Although the initial test was free, the full game could potentially use in-app purchases to generate revenue. Many mobile games limit gameplay or hide content unless players spend money, and Borderlands Mobile could follow this model. It’s currently unclear whether or not this will happen.
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The mobile version of Borderlands will include a battle pass and cosmetic items for players to purchase, and ideally, that will be the extent of the in-app purchases. However, once the game is fully released, there’s a possibility more items could become available for buying, such as keys for loot boxes. A more concerning possibility is that players might have to pay to unlock Vault Hunters, with only one character being free. While not entirely out of the question, this would likely be very frustrating. Another option could be offering early access to the game for a fee, with a way to unlock it through gameplay. Given that monetization could potentially harm the game, and its basic gameplay is already strong, the biggest hope is that any paid content will be reasonable and focus solely on cosmetic items.
Borderlands Mobile’s Vault Hunters Will Hopefully Gain More Personality
The characters in Borderlands Mobile, called Vault Hunters, feel quite similar to those in the original Borderlands, but they lack distinct personalities. Their skill trees are basic, identified only by their character class, and the witty conversations between the Vault Hunters and other characters—a highlight of most Borderlands games—are missing. Considering that the Borderlands series is known for its diverse and interesting playable characters, and how fun it is to combine their abilities in co-op mode, Borderlands Mobile could definitely improve its character development.
The mobile version of Borderlands would be improved with more developed characters. Expanding the skill trees and giving each character a unique backstory – beyond just typical classes like Summoners or Assassins – would be a great start. Adding voice lines for the characters themselves, not just the enemies, would make the game feel more alive. Finally, giving characters proper names and personalities, like Amon from Borderlands 4 (who’s known as Amon, the honorable monster hunter, not just a ‘Forgeknight’), would help players connect with them more deeply.
Borderlands Mobile Will Hopefully Expand Its Audience
The biggest letdown with the Borderlands Mobile test was that it wasn’t available to everyone. Players with Android phones or those outside of the US couldn’t even try the game. Currently, Android fans are relying on leaked files that hint Zynga might be working on a version for their devices. Officially announcing wider availability would really excite fans, and it might even be worth considering platforms beyond mobile. With the uncertain future of Borderlands 4 on the Switch 2 and no release date in sight, Borderlands Mobile could be a great fit for that console. Since the mobile version already supports controllers, bringing it to the Switch 2 wouldn’t be a huge challenge and could offer players a good alternative to BL4. Given how enjoyable Borderlands Mobile is so far, making it available to as many people as possible would be a smart move.
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2026-04-20 01:14