Borderlands 4 ‘Tripling Down’ on One Pillar Can’t Leave the Rest Barely Standing

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The highly anticipated game, Borderlands 4, is just around the corner and it’s set to bring an exciting assortment of new features to the series. Among these are four unique Vault Hunters, each boasting a one-of-a-kind mix of abilities, and a vast interconnected planet teeming with numerous activities. Borderlands 4 promises plenty for players to explore, but as with any offering, the real test lies in its execution. And according to the head of Gearbox, the actual quantity might even surpass what “a lot” implies.

In a chat with IGN at Gamescom, Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford mentioned they are taking a stronger approach (than just doubling down) on additional content, which we refer to as “tripling down”. This doesn’t mean players have to engage in it if they don’t wish to. However, it can sometimes be misleading when the optional nature of side content is highlighted excessively. Ideally, any extra content a game offers should seem both optional and vital to the story, setting, and player’s overall experience – a delicate balance that becomes tougher as more side content is included in a game.

Borderlands 4’s Side Content Push Risks Undercutting Its Story

Borderlands 4 Can Have More Side Content, But It Needs to Mean Something

From one perspective, it’s understandable if Borderlands 4 includes a large amount of side content due to its expansive and interconnected world. Given the game’s revamped method of incorporating optional content within the overall gaming experience, this could potentially be effective. However, potential issues may arise if most of this optional content fails to contribute significantly to the main narrative, setting, or characters. Since Borderlands series has been known for side quests that often revolve around fetching items or killing enemies, adding more of such quests in Borderlands 4 might not be the wisest decision.

Instead, it should strive to make the additional content enhance the overall context by providing more than just chances for players to earn extra money or rewards. For instance, the side content in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 serves to enrich the game’s world and characters, as its story-based structure primarily focuses on narrative and world-building. In light of Borderlands 4’s emphasis on additional content, it is crucial for them to take this into account to prevent that content from becoming mundane, repetitive, and without purpose.

Borderlands 4’s Main Narrative Still Needs to Be the Show-Stopper

Ensuring that additional content remains engaging is crucial, as excessive irrelevant material can dilute a game’s main storyline. If the game is excessively interrupted, whether these interruptions are subtly suggested or heavily emphasized, there’s a risk that “Borderlands 4″‘s primary narrative could be sidelined unintentionally. If players have an overwhelming amount of side content that doesn’t contribute to the broader story, that narrative might become fragmented, making it possible for players to forget their place in the story when they resume playing.

Fundamentally, the side missions in Borderlands 4 should be interwoven more closely with its main narrative. This can be achieved by expanding the game’s lore, deepening character development, and potentially altering the game world based on player decisions. By doing so, the optional content would remain discretionary yet vital, keeping players engaged and reminded of the primary purpose behind these missions. It is hoped that Borderlands 4 recognizes the importance of quality over quantity and scale in creating an engaging experience for its players.

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2025-08-22 23:01