Borderlands 4: The Worst Thing Every Company in the Series Has Done So Far

In the Borderlands series, a collection of unforgettable adversaries have made their mark, and it seems that Borderlands 4 will continue this trend. Characters like Commandant Steele, Handsome Jack, and Tyreen Calypso are still fondly remembered by fans, and The Timekeeper from Borderlands 4 could potentially be the next to become a part of this gallery of notorious figures.

The series, specifically Borderlands, introduces weapon manufacturing companies as secondary antagonists. Although they don’t steal the limelight like the main villains, their nefarious activities can sometimes be subtle or overshadowed. Players should pay close attention to their misdeeds throughout the games, for these companies may pose significant threats in the upcoming Borderlands 4.

Many Borderlands Manufacturers Are Truly Villainous

Atlas

With Rhys taking over as CEO in Borderlands 3, Atlas Corporation is currently functioning more efficiently than before in the series, yet it still falls short of being excellent due to its continued use of animal testing for its products. In the initial Borderlands game, however, Atlas was on a quest to find Pandora’s Vault of the Destroyer. They had the Crimson Lance to maintain law and order but aimed to seize the power of The Destroyer for even greater dominion.

Dahl

One of Dahl Corporation’s worst transgressions is that their actions led to numerous bandit groups across the series. They forced unpaid workers to mine for Eridium on Pandora and then deserted the planet, leaving the miners behind without compensation. This isn’t an isolated incident; the mining activities on Elpis resulted in The Crackening, a disaster detailed in “Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel,” which claimed many lives on Pandora’s moon. Once more, the company abandoned its workforce after the event.

Hyperion

As a gamer immersed in the Borderlands universe, I’ve always known that Hyperion was a dubious corporation. But it was during the tumultuous events of Borderlands 2 that Handsome Jack, their CEO, turned them into a genuine menace. His ambition was to unlock the Vault of the Destroyer, harnessing its power for his own domination over Pandora and its inhabitants. When this scheme failed, he resorted to ruling through fear, leveling settlements and tormenting the people, all in pursuit of his twisted vision. Though Hyperion’s influence may have waned in subsequent Borderlands games, Handsome Jack’s actions solidify their status as one of the most corrupt entities within this dystopian world.

Following the player’s victory over Handsome Jack in Borderlands 2, it is later unveiled in New Tales from the Borderlands that Athena assumes the role of CEO at Hyperion, as depicted in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.

Jakobs

Initially, Tyreen Calypso and the Children of the Vault seized power over the company, but the Jakobs Corporation was already notorious for its malicious manufacturing practices. To conceal their misdeeds, they disguised their actions by colonizing the planet Gehenna under a false identity, “The Company”. This pseudonym and the planet’s resources were leveraged to create a destructive bioweapon called The Ruiner, which is featured in Borderlands 3‘s Bounty of Blood DLC as a playable enemy.

As a fervent admirer, I must admit that Jacob’s creation proved uncontrollable, causing it to be launched off-planet, obliterating any trace of our involvement. It’s not just this incident that raises eyebrows; our company has been entangled in biological experimentation before, contributing significantly to the emergence of the zombies in The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned DLC. Unfortunately, we also left our personnel stranded on the island in a similar predicament.

Torgue

Although Mr. Torque appears less questionable compared to heads of other arms industries, it’s important to note that he isn’t the current owner. Contrary to the assumption suggested by Torgue Corporation in the game Borderlands, Mr. Torgue relinquished ownership during The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler DLC expansion in Borderlands 2. Historically, the company has been less than transparent, providing weapons to criminal elements as far back as the original game. However, the most problematic act attributed to Mr. Torgue thus far is hosting a survival-of-the-fittest contest among employees, resulting in a significant reduction of the workforce within a few days.

Some Borderlands Companies Have Become Major Threats

Bandit and Scav

In the Borderlands series, Bandit-like characters, or their equivalent in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel known as Scav, construct certain weapons. However, it’s important to note that these aren’t conventional companies. Instead, the game’s bandit characters cobble together Bandit weapons from assorted materials, creating a distinct appearance and properties for them. Even a novice player won’t take long to learn about the atrocious deeds commonly associated with bandits in this universe.

Children of the Vault

In simpler terms, Children of the Vault (COV) is how Borderlands 3 portrays Bandit weapons. Although it’s not a corporation, its actions are significant enough to be noted. This mysterious group, with cult-like tendencies, is controlled by the antagonists Tyreen and Troy Calypso. Tyreen, in particular, possesses the Phaseleech ability and used it to fuse with The Destroyer, transforming into Borderlands 3’s Tyreen the Destroyer. This allows her to control Pandora and wreak havoc at will.

Maliwan

In Borderlands 3, Maliwan Corporation stands out as the most malevolent conglomerate. Collaborating with Tyreen Calypso, Katagawa Jr. utilized her Siren Phaseleech powers to eliminate his kin, thereby solidifying his leadership within Maliwan. With this authority, he and Tyreen aimed to seize the Vault containing The Rampager on Promethea. Maliwan’s actions are guided by corporate objectives, instigating wars with rival companies to forge alliances and annihilating planets for financial gain. The ruthless tactics employed by Maliwan in Borderlands set it apart from other manufacturers within the series due to its unrelenting pursuit of profit.

Tediore

In every manufacturer of firearms within the Borderlands universe, each brand carries unique characteristics in its weaponry. For instance, Tediore weapons are renowned for their affordability, not only in the price at which players can purchase them but also in the durability of the guns themselves. Starting from Borderlands 2, this characteristic takes a leap as the weapons become disposable.

Prior to the unveiling of “New Tales from the Borderlands”, Tediore’s primary strategy was cost-cutting. However, it was exposed that they had created a weapon capable of continuously eradicating and reviving entire populations as a means of torment. This isn’t the end of their malevolent actions, as in “Borderlands 4”, Rafa will demonstrate how the corporation has transitioned from manufacturing weapons to weaponizing individuals instead.

The Worst Actions of Some Borderlands Companies Are Yet To Be Revealed

Anshin

In the Borderlands series, Anshin stands out as one of the rare companies not engaged in gun manufacturing. Instead, their focus lies on crafting grenade mods, health packs, shields, and Quick Change stations within Borderlands. Despite making an appearance in every mainline game since Borderlands 2, the company remains shrouded in mystery throughout the series’ narrative. However, from a gameplay perspective, Anshin is criticized for its double-edged approach: offering both offensive and defensive equipment, thereby profiting from players’ struggles and conflicts.

Eridian

Similar to Bandit and COV, Eridians are not corporations; they are an extraterrestrial species whose technology has been utilized for weaponry by both the Eridians themselves and the companies in the series. Their objective was to contain the monsters from the Vaults, known as Vault Monsters, within those very vaults to prevent unnecessary devastation.

In an attempt to prevent more damage than good, the Eridians confined certain beings, which later turned out to be a sought-after treasure for the creators of Pandora. However, due to the Eridians’ ultimate sacrifice in sealing The Destroyer, they didn’t physically appear in the series, but their technology remains crucial. Borderlands

The Eridians kept certain beings locked up to prevent more harm than good, making it a valuable find for Pandora’s creators. Although the Eridians themselves are not present in the series, their technology is still very important. Borderlands

Pangolin

Similar to Anshin, Pangolin primarily focuses on the creation of shields and class mods, rather than weapon manufacturing, much like in the original Borderlands game where they also produced grenade mods. However, these were phased out in subsequent games until Borderlands 3. At this point, there isn’t a lot known about Pangolin within the Borderlands universe, but with the potential release of Borderlands 4, we might learn more. Regardless, it’s reasonable to infer that a company dealing with weapons and shields could face similar challenges as other companies in the series.

S&S Munitions

In a somewhat unique position among other companies in the series, S&S Munitions is often seen as particularly ethical due to its products seldom making an appearance. The company was indeed one of the original manufacturers for the first Borderlands game; however, it didn’t feature in subsequent games because their weapons closely resembled those of the Bandits, leading to a lack of distinction.

In the game Borderlands 3, the company was indeed referenced. This revelation showed that what was previously known as S&S Munitions in the Borderlands series had changed its name to S&S Accessories. It’s now responsible for the light beacons on loot items dropped during gameplay. While this company doesn’t appear too problematic compared to others, it’s important to note that manufacturing weapons and promoting posters that encourage violence against targets isn’t exactly ethical or moral.

Vladof

Although Vladof appears consistently throughout the entire saga, there remains much about them that remains shrouded in mystery. They propagate an image of being for the people, yet given their vast corporate presence, it’s possible this is merely a facade. Given their involvement in the Corporate Wars and emergence as one of the victorious manufacturers, Borderlands’ Vladof is likely no better than the other corporations portrayed within the series.

In the Borderlands series, certain corporations serve as the hidden antagonists, inflicting harm and chaos for maximum corporate profit. Some of these corporations are recurring elements in the franchise, set to reappear as manufacturers in Borderlands 4. However, others remain enigmatic even after multiple appearances. As the story progresses to Borderlands 4’s planet Kairos and the new menace, The Timekeeper, there is a chance that more information will surface about these corporations and their malevolent actions.

2025-08-05 03:40