Part of Borderlands’ appeal is its commitment to spectacle, and Borderlands 4 seems as though it won’t be any different in this regard. Players should be able to expect more guns, loot, and explosions than any past game in the series, but there has been something missing from the franchise that Borderlands 4 is set to introduce: photo mode.
Borderlands 4 is the series’ first true foray into the next generation of consoles, and with that, it is adapting to better fit modern hardware. Its willingness to shift genre from previous Borderlands titles is a bold move that assures fans that the series will keep changing to avoid stagnation. However, the modern gaming trend of photo mode is something that the series has yet to embrace until now, and its introduction in Borderlands 4 could present a unique twist.
Borderlands 4 Adding Helpful Quality of Life Feature
Borderlands 4 is adding a particularly helpful quality-of-life feature to the game, coinciding with the updates to the franchise's skill trees.
Borderlands 4’s Photo Mode Could Lead to Some Funny Interactions
Photo Mode Adds to the Video Game Experience
In recent years, photo mode has become a staple in modern gaming. It gives players the opportunity to truly appreciate the game world they are inhabiting, paying closer attention to the smaller details added by the game’s designers. The best photo modes give players the time to slow down, take a step back, and express themselves in these virtual spaces.
Photo modes can be used to capture photos that enhance gaming moments. Mario Kart World recently added a photo mode feature, and as well as the standard options players have come to expect, they are also able to adjust their character’s pose and expression to better represent the emotions felt during the moment.
Some games make their photo modes a diegetic part of the game experience. Rather than it just being a simple option in a menu, some games have their in-game characters take photos, including selfies. This keeps the photo mode connected to the player’s experience, leading to some humorous photo ops and encouraging the player to step into the minds of the characters to consider what they would take pictures of. The best example of this is a Twitter account which imitates Kazuma Kiryu, sharing posts and selfies that stay true to the character’s personality.
Elevating Borderlands' Humor Through Photo Mode
The Borderlands series could greatly benefit from a photo mode, and its inclusion in Borderlands 4 is its best opportunity. As much as its over-the-top weapons are a major selling point, the series is known for its zany humor, and adding a photo mode could elevate funny situations to new heights. Being able to set the Vault Hunters up in amusing poses and scenarios could be a great way for players to make their own fun on Kairos.
Humor is still a core part of the Borderlands experience, but it has been stated that Borderlands 4 will be cutting down on the toilet humor. For some fans, this is a change for the better, and will hopefully result in more thoughtful comedic moments. However, there may be players who are disheartened by this news. Since photo mode is coming to the game, these players may be able to reinsert some of the missing lowbrow jokes that the series is stepping away from.
Photo mode interaction does not need to be exclusive to Vault Hunters, either. Borderlands has a rich cast of characters with distinct personalities that fans have grown fond of over the years. What could be a great addition to photo mode is if the game’s NPCs interacted with the player, offering a unique line of dialogue or possibly even posing for the camera. This would add some more life to this already lively cast.
Photo Mode Could Give Borderlands 4 Some Mystery
While adding a photo mode can be a nice addition on the side of the main gameplay experience, there is one way that it could be used in Borderlands 4 to actually improve upon the concept. Photo mode could be a way to add some mystery to the game, revealing secrets that are not apparent during regular gameplay. Cyberpunk 2077 contains many mysteries, and some of the clues have been linked to photo mode, showing that this kind of evolution is possible.
If Borderlands 4 were to adopt a similar approach to Cyberpunk 2077, there is a reward already established in the series that Gearbox could provide players. Shift Codes have been used throughout the series to give players rewards, such as Golden Keys that give players rare items from the Loot Chest, as well as different heads and trinkets to customize the player’s Vault Hunter.
It’s possible Shift Codes could be hidden around the Borderlands 4’s open world, but are only revealed when players use the game’s photo mode. These codes could be out of reach in normal gameplay and require free camera, or possibly hidden completely until the player enters photo mode. This would give players an incentive to scour every nook and cranny of Kairos in order to find exclusive loot.
It’s possible, too, that these wouldn’t be complete codes. Instead, players may only be able to find short sections of codes. Doing this would encourage the whole community to work together to find and match the Shift Code snippets found, adding a kind of ARG experience to the game. Borderlands has always been a series with cooperation at its core, so adding secrets only viewable in photo mode could be a great way to get players to collaborate even more.
Photo mode gives players more ways to appreciate game worlds, encouraging them to be more present in these environments and admire details that they otherwise may have skipped over. Though Borderlands 4’s photo mode will not be available when the game releases on September 12, it will give players more reason to be more mindful when exploring Kairos when it is added, whether this is to take in the scenery, inject some more humor, or potentially uncover some secrets.
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
