I’m on it. Here’s a reimagined take:
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So, there I was—just another human binge-watching the Borderlands 4 State of Play like a gazillion others across the globe last night. And man, it’s a smorgasbord of fresh info! All these gameplay tweaks and add-ons give off this nostalgic nod to the OG Borderlands rather than the newer stuff we’ve seen. Oddly enough, it kind of reminds me of Destiny 3 rather than the Borderlands 4 I had cooked up in my head a few months back. It’s bold and all that—feels like the right vibe shift for the series.
Speaking of vibes, Borderlands is kind of famous for two things. First, the killer FPS action it’s known for. You know, that looter shooter magic where guns spit out all sorts of bizarre projectiles. It’s been the backbone since the first game—even when Borderlands 1 seems pretty tame next to the sequels now. And then, there’s the thing with the humor. You either love Claptrap and those quirky Spongebob parody moments, or… not so much. But for every fan giggling, there are folks rolling their eyes. Now, with Borderlands 4, Gearbox is shaking things up big time—for the better, I think.
About the humor, it’s been dialed back, thank goodness. Fewer jokes, more precision timing. A couple of quips here and there, sure, but nothing overwhelming. I was 100% ready for a cringe ‘Sigma’ joke in this one, but now? It’s like they’ve turned a new leaf, and it’s kinda refreshing.
And visually, Borderlands 4 feels different. Still wacky, but dialed down a notch—less garish, less like a cartoon explosion. The world design is something else, though. We’re talking about a shift in how you explore, tracking down vaults. Imagine it more like the kind of game Bungie has been cranking out. Organic world bosses, events popping out of nowhere? Yep, a modern twist that actually works. Dungeons instead of just loot waterfalls? That’s a brave move. Plus, having drones for quests and instant vehicle summons—reminds me a bit of Destiny 2, honestly. It’s a wild blend of Destiny’s essence with Gearbox’s own cheeky flair.
In some alternate universe, this could’ve been bonkers. But right now, with Bungie all caught up with Marathon and Destiny 2’s bite-sized updates, there’s a sweet spot for a new heavy hitter in town. Destiny 2’s had its hiccups—content gone poof, onboarding woes, layoffs. It’s messy. And Marathon? It’s getting mixed reviews from Alpha players—doesn’t quite hit the mark for some. Before this, the timing of Borderlands might have felt strategic (even if Randy Pitchford denied it). Now? It comes across as almost benevolent. I’m convinced Borderlands 4 would’ve clobbered Marathon if they’d gone head-to-head.
So yeah, all this is buzzing around my brain, sparking a whole new excitement for Borderlands 4. Maybe this thrill will fizzle out eventually, but right now, as everyone’s riding the pre-launch hype wave, it sure has got people buzzing about Borderlands again. Solid move!
