Changes that Borderlands 4 Needs in Future Updates

No game is flawless, and Borderlands 4 is a good illustration of that. Since its release, players have voiced numerous complaints about problems with the game. While Gearbox has resolved some of these, many issues still require attention.

Creating new characters isn’t as enjoyable as it once was, and leveling up can be really exhausting. To ensure Borderlands 4 is successful, Gearbox should seriously consider these improvements in future updates, or at least give them some thought.

7. Add a Level 50 Character Option

Reduce the Grind

Once you finish the main story in Borderlands 4, you’ll have the option to start a new character who begins at level 30. This level is designed to match the level you’ll likely be when you first complete the game’s story.

Developing this character quickly finishes the core storyline, but then you’re stuck repeating side quests, hunting bounties, or endlessly fighting bosses like the Timekeeper to reach the level cap – now 60 with the Mad Ellie expansion.

Many players find the current leveling process repetitive and time-consuming. Gearbox could improve this by letting players start at level 50. This would reduce the grind – players would only need to gain 10 levels to reach the maximum, instead of 30 (or even 40 when the level cap increases again).

6. Change the Infamy System

Make Everything My Level

Most players likely won’t want to repeat the game’s side quests after finishing the main story, as many of them are quite lengthy. Therefore, Gearbox should consider either removing the ‘infamy’ system altogether or giving players the option to disable it.

The game’s difficulty system can be frustrating if you focus only on the main story. You’ll quickly find enemies are much stronger than you, forcing you to spend time repeatedly battling weaker foes just to level up. Unfortunately, you can’t even overcome this by repeatedly defeating bosses, as they’ll stay at a higher level, preventing effective farming.

It’s frustrating to be required to do side quests, particularly if you’ve already finished them. Gearbox could improve things by letting players disable the infamy system, or by allowing boss farming to contribute to leveling up.

5. Make Pearlescent Items Better

They are Underwhelming

Man, after waiting forever, Gearbox finally put Pearlescent weapons in Borderlands 4. But honestly? They’re kinda disappointing. I’ve seen almost no one actually using them – they just don’t seem worth the hype.

The ‘Sole Survivor’ Pearlescent pistol from the Mad Ellie DLC seems promising, but it’s actually only effective in a very specific scenario. It only becomes powerful when you’re playing with others in co-op mode and all of your teammates are at critical health.

Pearlescent weapons are largely the same as each other, and aren’t very impactful. Most players can safely skip them unless they’re completionists. Gearbox should make these rare weapons truly worthwhile, rather than letting them feel weak and unimportant. Considering how hard they are to find, they deserve to be powerful.

4. Rewarding Side Missions

Something Other than a Randomized Reward

The side missions don’t offer much of a payoff. This is pretty clear even during your first time playing the main story. Completing them usually just gives you a little experience and a small reward sent to your character.

As a player, I’ve definitely run into this issue: you get rewards after missions, but it’s easy to just keep playing and totally forget to actually open the reward boxes. Before you know it, your inventory is overflowing with stuff you never even claimed! And honestly, going back to replay the campaign feels a little underwhelming, especially the side quests. It’s even worse if you just jump in with a max-level character, because it doesn’t feel as rewarding when you skip the story.

The downloadable content hasn’t addressed the core issue, making revisiting the game – whether the main story or the DLCs – feel repetitive. Adding unique rewards like special gear, character skins, or exclusive bosses found in side missions would encourage players to engage with those missions more often.

3. More Endgame Events

Circle of Slaughter Maybe

Does anyone else feel like the late-game content in Borderlands 4 is still uninspired, even after its release? Borderlands 3 offered players plenty of reasons to keep playing with things like multiple takedowns and raids, but Borderlands 4 currently lacks those kinds of activities.

The game is being updated to include takedowns, which will address a current issue, but more content like additional bosses is also needed. It would be great to see some popular events from the past return – maybe Mr. Torgue could bring back the Circle of Slaughter, or Moxxi could reintroduce slot machines.

Gearbox has many opportunities to improve the endgame experience in Borderlands 4. Beyond the expected improvements, they could add even more features to make it truly enjoyable.

2. Stop Recycling Content

Everything is the Same

I’m a big Borderlands player and enjoy things like defeating bosses and creating character builds, but it does become repetitive. Unfortunately, Gearbox hasn’t introduced anything new or exciting for Borderlands 4; the new content feels like more of the same old gameplay.

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The downloadable content packs have all focused on quickly reaching a new boss to repeatedly defeat, and the first story expansion follows this same pattern. Upon closer inspection, a lot of the new content in the expansion actually comes from the original game.

Okay, so I noticed something while playing the Mad Ellie DLC – a lot of the stuff feels… familiar. Like, those record players? They’re basically just the Evocariums from the main game, just with a new look. And the Dahl Bunker? That’s totally a reskinned Ripper Site. It’s cool they’re reusing assets, but it’s pretty obvious if you’ve played a lot of the game.

For Borderlands 4 to be a hit, the developers need to create genuinely new and engaging content. Simply repackaging the original game with minor changes won’t be enough to keep players hooked.

1. Add Hidden Details

Reward Us for Searching

Previous Borderlands games were full of amazing hidden secrets, and it feels like those are largely absent in the new game. I appreciate Gearbox’s effort to create a more open world, but it seems like some of the game’s special charm has been lost in the process.

In Borderlands 2, you can find a unique item called Geary’s Gear hidden in Claptrap’s fireplace. If you carry this item to the Eridium Blight area, you’ll meet Geary. If you let him attack you, he’ll give you two valuable red chests as a reward.

Borderlands 4 needs more well-hidden secrets! While the game has some easter eggs, they don’t quite match the thrill of discovering something truly special like the Excalibastard in The Pre-Sequel – actually pulling that sword from the stone was amazing. Gearbox should create more of those magical, rewarding experiences for players who like to explore.

2026-04-04 21:40