The Borderlands franchise has a storied history with downloadable content. The first Borderlands had four lengthy campaign DLCs. Borderlands 2 went above and beyond with its five campaign DLCs, five Headhunter missions, and two DLC Vault Hunters. And Borderlands 3 was determined to keep this legacy alive, delivering four campaign DLCs of its own along with a handful of seasonal events. Borderlands 4 is getting ready to chart a similar course.
A few days ago, developer Gearbox revealed Borderlands 4's post-launch roadmap. Within its first few months, Borderlands 4 is set to receive a plethora of free content updates that bring new legendary weapons, cosmetics, and a new boss variant to the looter shooter. Two paid Bounty Packs will also be released, bringing new missions and bosses to the table.
But the really exciting stuff comes in Q1 2026, when Borderlands 4 receives its first major story DLC. Along with new main story and side missions, new legendary gear, and a new map zone, this first Borderlands 4 story DLC will add a new playable Vault Hunter. And while Gearbox hasn't confirmed the identity of this new hero just yet, there's a chance their appearance could answer a long-running Borderlands 3 mystery.
Borderlands 4's First DLC Vault Hunter Could Be BL3's Clay
One of Borderlands 3's original characters, Clay is first introduced when the player reaches Eden-6. Once a space-faring smuggler, Clay was eventually caught red-handed by Montgomery Jakobs. Rather than send the thief to prison, Jakobs welcomed him into the renowned manufacturing family, and Clay's been a loyal gunhand ever since.
Though he only stayed at the Vault Hunter's side for a few missions, Clay became one of Borderlands 3's standout characters thanks to his distinct character design and charming rogueish personality. And there's a slight possibility Clay could be Borderlands 4's first DLC Vault Hunter.
Borderlands 4's post-launch roadmap shows the silhouette of a person sporting a wide-brimmed hat, seemingly adorned with feathers. Admittedly, it's not the strongest link, but one of Clay's defining visual traits in BL3 was his wide-brimmed cowboy hat.
Of course, the hat shown in the post-launch roadmap teaser looks quite different from the one Clay wears in Borderlands 3, and the seemingly feathered outfit doesn't match Clay's gunslinger duster. But the Borderlands series hasn't been afraid to change a character's visual design between entries. Maya, for instance, has short blue hair and an all-yellow outfit in Borderlands 2, while in BL3 she has long hair, often wears a hood, and her outfit has turned black and gray. It's possible that Clay could get a redesign in Borderlands 4.
Clay would also be a natural fit for Borderlands 4's Vault Hunter roster. BL4's base game won't include any Vault Hunters who are focused on sniping and stealth, and Clay could fill that role nicely via Borderlands 4's first story DLC. Of course, this is all pure speculation based on just one silhouetted image, so nothing here should be taken as fact.
Borderlands 4's DLC Might Finally Answer The Mystery of Clay's Vault Brand
It would be great to see Clay return in Borderlands 4, especially if his reappearance finally answers one BL3 mystery. In Borderlands 3, Clay's right arm features a hard-to-spot Vault symbol. Given its faded appearance, fans have theorized that this Vault symbol could be the remnants of an old tattoo that's been removed, or maybe even a scar left by a brand.
There's no official explanation for Clay's Vault symbol mark, but there are a few fan theories out there. Some fans have speculated that Clay may have been a Vault Hunter long before the events of Borderlands 3, while others have suggested that Clay may have been given the mark by the Children of the Vault when they invaded Eden-6.
Even if Clay doesn't end up being Borderlands 4's first DLC Vault Hunter, the game's story DLC would be the perfect opportunity to explore more of the fan-favorite character's past.
Borderlands 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
