This article contains story spoilers for both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3.
Gearbox's PAX West Borderlands 4 panel delivered plenty of surprises, but none was more intriguing than the reveal of the game's first Story Pack, Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned. Billed as a cosmic horror expansion drenched in a bloodier, darker tone, the Borderlands 4 DLC looks like it could mark a significant tonal shift for the series. Yet the title itself might be hiding something bigger, like the possibility that a widely beloved character may not live to see the base game through.
The first major DLC, announced alongside Borderlands 4's post-launch roadmap, will feature a brand-new region of Kairos to explore, a new playable Vault Hunter, more Legendary loot to chase, and a suite of cosmetic extras. Yet while all of those additions sound exciting, there's a pretty big elephant in the room with this Story Pack. Particularly, the story implications of Ellie now carrying the title of "Mad" and what that might mean for her mother Moxxi.
The Title of Borderlands 4's First Story Pack Has Dark Implications
Admittedly, Ellie's new moniker in Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned feels like it could be one of two things, and the latter is far more conspiratorial. Firstly, "Mad Ellie" makes sense for a cosmic horror-themed DLC, as it could refer to the cosmic horror driving her crazy, though that's the less interesting angle to explore. The other scenario looks at how Ellie's iconic mother, Moxxi, has always carried the title of "Mad Moxxi," and the sudden addition of the "Mad" mantle to Ellie's repertoire suggests something may have changed in-universe. Ellie has always been her own person that avoids Moxxi's lifestyle, after all, so it's fascinating that she is taking on her name all of a sudden.
Now, Gearbox has not spoken any which way about Moxxi with regard to the character's fate in Borderlands 4, though she is confirmed to appear in the game at the very least since she's shown alongside Zane in the trailers. Still, given her longstanding presence in the series, even the possibility of her death would signal a giant shift for a franchise that has included the character in every outing (main series or otherwise) thus far. If she's headed for greener pastures, it'd be the end of one of the most iconic Borderlands characters ever.
What The Mad Ellie DLC Pack Could Mean for Moxxi in Borderlands 4
Through her narrative ties to nearly every Vault Hunter, a knack for innuendo, and multiple ex-husbands, Moxxi has become one of the series' most recognizable characters. Her potential departure (in whatever form that might take) would have a massive impact on the series' tone. If Ellie inherits the "Mad" title due to Moxxi's death, be it in the story of Borderlands 4 or the DLC, it would be one of the franchise's boldest storytelling decisions to date, which, all things considered, may not be a good thing.
Gearbox Closing the Book on Moxxi Would Be a Risky Choice
It'd be a risky move for Gearbox to take Moxxi off the board. Killing off such a beloved character, especially when done poorly, could alienate long-time fans, particularly those who see her as a cut above newer characters like Ellie. Of course, that isn't all fans' estimation of the ranking of Borderlands NPCs, but it's certainly an understandable take.
Borderlands has a spotty track record of killing off beloved characters, as the death of Roland at Handsome Jack's hand was particularly impactful. However, Maya's death in Borderlands 3 is widely regarded as poorly executed.
The reward side of the coin, however, would be that a successful shift could very well create an abundance of fresh narrative opportunities. Even after the death of her brother, Scooter (another widely beloved character), Ellie's character hasn't really evolved much, but Moxxi being out of the picture would definitely force some change. Gearbox has been signaling a darker, more mature storytelling direction for Borderlands 4, and combined with the cosmic horror theme of the expansion, there are tons of possibilities for Ellie to step into the spotlight in ways she has not before.
As of now, whether Moxxi's fate is sealed in either Borderlands 4 or the Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned DLC is anyone's guess. The possibility of legacy characters passing the torch to the next generation could give any franchise fresh energy if done well. Still, as Maya fans are aware, the franchise has thus far not had a stellar track record in that department. Fans will have to wait for the game's release to see just how far Gearbox is willing to go, but the potential implications for the future of Borderlands 4 are hard to ignore.
Borderlands 4
-
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
