Despite Tonal Shifts, Borderlands 4 Has Proven It’s Still Committed to the Bit

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Each installment of the “Borderlands” series has been known for a distinctly offbeat sense of humor, often incorporating elements of contemporary internet culture. Jokes about bathroom humor, memes, and even streaming culture have played significant roles in multiple “Borderlands” games. However, it appears that “Borderlands 4” is breaking away from this trend, not abandoning its irreverent tone altogether but rather developing its own unique brand of humor instead.

As a hardcore gamer, I must admit, the trailers for Borderlands 4 have been a bit more somber than I anticipated. There’s still that familiar spark of humor, but it’s not quite the over-the-top hilarity we’ve come to expect from previous Borderlands titles. However, in an interview with GamesRadar+ earlier this year, senior project producer Anthony Nicholson hinted at a shift in tone. He described Kairos as a world where things look grim, the stakes are high, and the characters take those stakes seriously. But he also emphasized that it won’t be lacking the quirky, bizarre, and chaotic elements that make Borderlands, Borderlands.

Commitment to the Bit

The appearance and reception of it is yet unknown, but it certainly requires a delicate approach; a poorly timed jest could mar a somber moment, and excessively grim undertones may dampen the humor. To give an example of a misplaced joke, Claptrap has been present since the initial game and has managed to win over many fans forcefully. Despite this, there are still numerous individuals who despise him, as much as one can dislike digital pixels, and it’s likely that several characters in Borderlands 4 share the same sentiment towards his chatter. However, they don’t have to listen, and neither do you.

According to posts on social networking sites, it’s been hinted that Borderlands 4 may include an adjustable volume control for Claptrap’s voice. This implies that players might be able to mute him throughout their entire gaming experience, which is amusing in itself. However, since Claptrap plays a significant role in the game, turning down his audio could potentially cause important dialogue to go unheard. It’s possible that subtitles are still available, or perhaps the volume slider doesn’t function as initially thought. If it does change the tone of his voice to something unrecognizable, that would be quite amusing; if not, a non-functioning slider could also provide some laughs. There’s a chance it works as intended, but it might result in Claptrap addressing the player directly or otherwise disrupting the game – a nod to the longstanding tradition from the first Borderlands game.

Borderlands 4 also has a very Borderlands-oriented fishing feature.

Additionally, Nicholson mentioned that the tone would lean towards a mix of what players experienced in the first Borderlands and the humor found in Borderlands 2. This approach suggests a respect for classic Borderlands humor, particularly Claptrap, which could indicate a consistent tone. With the release date of Borderlands 4 set for September 12, this setting is high on many fans’ must-see lists.

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2025-07-04 13:25