Gearbox’s Promise About Borderlands 4’s New Villain Isn’t as Bold as It Sounds

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Gearbox's Promise About Borderlands 4's New Villain Isn't as Bold as It Sounds

As a dedicated Borderlands fan with countless hours spent looting, shooting, and laughing my way through Pandora, I can’t help but share my thoughts on the upcoming Borderlands 4. While Randy Pitchford has promised us a villain more powerful and sinister than Handsome Jack, I find myself questioning just how much more sinister that could be.

Following a long stretch of anticipation and patience, it’s been officially confirmed that Borderlands 4 will be launched next year. The latest addition to Gearbox’s highly acclaimed looter-shooter franchise was unveiled at Gamescom with an intriguing, enigmatic teaser trailer featuring a sinister robotic hand grasping one of the signature Psycho masks. As of now, specifics regarding the game are scarce, but Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has used X (previously known as Twitter) to quell fan assumptions that the game would bring back Handsome Jack.

Pitchford told fans that the antagonist in the next game will be more powerful and evil than Jack. However, these statements didn’t give any hints about who the main villain of Borderlands 4 could be. Even though Pitchford claimed the new villain is a greater danger than Jack, this statement might not reveal as much as it seems.

Borderlands 4’s Villain is Bigger and Badder than Handsome Jack

Was Handsome Jack All That Powerful or Sinister?

In Pitchford’s statement, his word choice was quite revealing: “More powerful and more sinister.” This suggests that Handsome Jack, who is undeniably one of the most outstanding antagonists in video game history, carries a tone that is not only sarcastic and violent but also psychopathic. However, it might be debatable if ‘powerful’ and ‘sinister’ accurately describe him.

In a symbolic sense, Jack is quite influential, holding the position of CEO at Hyperion Corporation, one of the key players in the Borderlands 2 universe. However, it’s essential to remember that Jack is merely an individual. His final confrontation within the narrative can be surprisingly simple for many Vault Hunters. By game’s end, Jack meets a common demise, much like any other character who was gunned down during the preceding gameplay hours.

Moreover, it’s not entirely accurate to label Jack as ominous or malevolent either. Although he does become more enigmatic and somber following Angel’s demise in the game, it’s challenging to perceive the man behind “Butt Stallion” as sinister. His humorous antics in the early stages of the game make it difficult for him to fully embody that title.

Who Could the Villain of Borderlands 4 Be?

If “more powerful and more sinister” than Jack doesn’t set a very high standard, it’s reasonable to speculate about the kind of villain the series could introduce in its fifth episode. It appears that the series is branching out from antagonists associated with corporations, which have been common in previous games. Also, the hand shown in the teaser trailer doesn’t belong to a human, so we can rule out any potential sirens or humans augmented by Eridian technology.

In the upcoming game Borderlands 4, there’s a possibility that the antagonist could be a character fans are familiar with. The enigma known as the Watcher from Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel has left many questions unanswered, and the impending war he hinted at after saving Athena seems to have been dragging on for too long. This elusive war that requires all Vault Hunters to join forces could finally be realized in Borderlands 4.

In the current scenario, it’s uncertain whether The Watcher is the antagonist or not, but there’s a strong possibility that an Eridian entity is taking on the role of the villain in Borderlands 4. This potential adversary aligns with the characteristics Gearbox Software’s Randy Pitchford outlined: Eridians naturally possess greater strength than humans, and if one were leading an invasion force, their power would be significantly elevated. Furthermore, whatever extra-terrestrial threat is looming over the Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4 likely harbors intentions that are far more sinister and expansive than Jack’s ever were.

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2024-09-09 14:34