Borderlands 4: Unveiling the Secrets of Kairos and The Timekeeper’s Reign

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Summary

  • Borderlands 4 takes place on Kairos, a new location with diverse regions and verticality.
  • The Timekeeper, with a synthetic army called The Order, has oppressed citizens with Bolts in their spines.
  • New additions include a dynamic weather system, Digirunners for mobility, and abandoned Silos to explore.

It’s amazing to think that Borderlands 3 was launched as far back as 2019. Time has flown by, but the excitement is palpable once again with Borderlands 4 on the horizon and plenty of fresh features in store. There are four new playable characters (Vault Hunters), vehicles, a grapple hook, and most excitingly, a brand-new location for veteran players to delve into and discover something fresh.

In the setting of Borderlands 4, the story unfolds on the once-secret planet Kairos. This hidden location was only revealed during the happenings of the previous game, Borderlands 3, which might be a minor spoiler for those who haven’t completed it yet. Essentially, the protective barriers surrounding Kairos have been breached, offering players an opportunity to freely investigate the mysteries that lay concealed behind them.

All news and details were taken from Borderlands 4’s 2025 PAX Panel and State of Play.

6. The Timekeeper And His Minions

Beware Of The Order

For more than a millennium, the Time Enforcer has been confining the inhabitants of Kairos. Despite his title suggesting time control abilities, the specific extent of his powers remains unknown. However, it’s certain that he leads an artificial squadron known as The Order, which players will likely encounter frequently in combat throughout the game.

To dominate Kairos’s inhabitants, the Timekeeper imposed a citywide curfew and administered a substance known as Bolt into their spines. For years, this device kept them under control and monitored their movements, but following the moon event that triggered the events in Borderlands 4, some citizens have begun to remove these Bolts. This action has led to fatalities or insanity for some, which could be the way typical Psycho-type enemies resurface in Borderlands 4.

5. The Planet’s Architecture

Four Big Areas To Explore

So far, the video clips have depicted a variety of locations on Kairos for players to explore. These include snow-covered mountains, arid deserts, forests, sunny beaches, a city that seems ominous, among others. Although the specific makeup of each area hasn’t been fully explained, it’s clear that the planet is divided into four regions: Fadefields, Terminus Range, Carcadia Burn, and Dominion.

In these areas, you’ll encounter minimal wait times as you roam freely. Mentioned earlier is Dominion, a city under the rule of The Timekeeper, which serves as our starting point. The icy expanse known as Terminus Range, where significant time was invested during the State of Play, is another region. A new element introduced in the series is verticality – the ability to traverse these four regions vertically, not just moving across flat terrains.

4. The Weather System

Bring An Umbrella

In Borderlands 4, a new feature is introduced – a shifting weather system which occasionally occurs. Unlike other games where weather changes can significantly impact gameplay, this won’t be an issue in Borderlands 4. For instance, there won’t be acid rain compelling players to seek shelter like the time-warp rain seen in Death Stranding.

In harsh weather conditions such as snowfall, rain, and dust storms, visibility may be reduced significantly. This could make it difficult to spot enemies, potentially leading to dangerous situations or even death. However, the developers have only hinted at these aspects of Kairos’ weather system so far. Once gameplay begins, more details might emerge.

3. How Citizens Can Get Around

From Digirunners To Grappling Hooks

As a fervent admirer of Kairos, I’ve come to understand their daily struggle under oppressive rule, yet their technology is far from the Dark Ages. Although the general populace may face restrictions, there are avenues open for the Vault Hunters. Take Digirunners, for instance – these sleek, Ghost-like machines from the realm of Halo, offer a swift and nimble means of transportation. While not everyone can enjoy this luxury, it’s a beacon of hope and progress in the face of adversity.

In essence, Digirunners resemble the transit vehicles from previous games, but they boast a modern, adaptable design for enhanced mobility. Moreover, in the world of Kairos, characters might possess grappling hooks, given the abundance of attachment points scattered throughout the environment. This further supports the vertical exploration possibilities alluded to earlier.

2. There Are Abandoned Silos

Reactivate For The Crimson Resistance

During the State of Play, it was revealed that throughout the four regions, there are intriguing locations known as Silos, which have been left abandoned. Players can use their Echo-4 robot companion to hack into these stations, creating a point of access that they can then swing onto. This will provide them with a boost in height, allowing for a swift descent via gliding.

The relationship between these Silos and Kairos’ past remains unclear. Could they resemble the enigmatic Shrines from “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild”? Will they offer more complexity than merely hackable entities, or will some be intricate like dungeons in standard RPGs? Patience is key as we won’t know until September.

1. The Weapon Manufacturers

Scraps Of The Past

To summarize, for a millennium, Kairos was secluded from the world, thus it wasn’t able to establish relationships with major gun factories. However, spaceships have collided with the planet, allowing the residents to become acquainted with established brands such as Jakobs, Maliwan, Vladof, Tediore, and Torgue, which are making a comeback. In Borderlands 4, Kairos will have its own unique gun manufacturers, numbering three in total.

Speaking about the previously mentioned extremist group, The Order, they manufacture guns that have charging capabilities. Notably, Ripper specializes in creating fully automatic firearms, while Daedalus weapons offer flexibility with various ammo types. Other reappearing entities include Hyperion, Atlas, and COV, but these exist primarily as separate weapon components rather than complete gun shells. Interestingly, the inhabitants of Kairos have figured out a way to construct weapons from scraps, which means you could encounter a weapon core from The Order combined with a barrel from Hyperion or a lens from Maliwan – an intriguing gameplay aspect and a fascinating piece of backstory.

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2025-05-14 07:51