Borderlands 4 is right around the corner, and it could wind up being a pivotal entry for the franchise. Not in terms of gameplay—everything about Borderlands 4 suggests that it will be a worthwhile continuation of the series' iconic, frenetic looter shooter gameplay formula—but rather with respect to dialog and overall tone.
It’s no great secret that the Borderlands series has been heavily criticized for its at-times painfully awkward and cringe-inducing dialog and humor. Popular opinion seems to indicate that the first two entries in the series were tolerable, and Tales from the Borderlands has received particularly high praise for its writing chops, but that Borderlands 3 is where things went south. Indeed, Borderlands 3’s dialog is often an insufferable blend of juvenile gross-out humor and overly enthusiastic jokes delivered with a sense of desperation; the game comes across like it’s trying too hard to be funny. Luckily, Borderlands 4’s narrative director Sam Winkler has indicated that the sequel will cut down on the “toilet humor” of its predecessor, which will be imperative to its success.
Winkler also specifically addressed Borderlands’ pop culture nods, joking that he would “cry real tears” if the word Skibidi appeared in the game, referencing the Skibidi Toilet meme that’s become so popular with younger demographics.
Borderlands 4's New Manufacturers Explained
Borderlands 4 will shake things up quite a bit from its predecessor, and it will feature three all-new weapon manufacturers.
Why Borderlands 4’s Reworked Tone Is Doubly Important
Borderlands 3’s Humor Was Rough, but the Borderlands Movie Was Cataclysmic
Though not enough to completely save the game’s reputation, many Borderlands 3 players have suggested a solution for those frustrated with its dialog: simply ignore it. Playing Borderlands 3 muted, with music or a podcast playing in the background, has been prescribed as a popular cure for players fed up with its cringe-worthy writing, and this seems to work for many—Borderlands 3’s gameplay is quite great, after all. But while this band-aid fix might work for a video game, no such remedy is available for a film, although many of those who went to see Eli Roth's Borderlands adaptation last year likely wish there were.
Bad video game movies are a dime a dozen, and have been for decades, but the Borderlands adaptation received a level of widespread criticism reserved for only the most despised projects. Detractors cited the film's messy and derivative story, bad action, and awkward acting as reasons for moviegoers to steer clear, but the signature "Borderlands 3" comedy was in full force as well. The film's renditions of characters like Tiny Tina and Claptrap drew particular ire from audiences, as their attempts at humor were especially forced and uncomfortable. One thing's for sure: the Borderlands movie did not help uplift the franchise's reputation in the wake of Borderlands 3.
Borderlands 4 Will Have to Toe the Line Between Annoying and Boring
While it's not for everyone, the irreverent comedy of previous Borderlands games is a big part of the series' identity. Since its first entry, Borderlands has never taken itself too seriously, always injecting its world with a healthy dose of lightheartedness, so while it will be important for Borderlands 4 to avoid the ham-fisted pop-culture references and bizarre, unwieldy humorous stylings of BL3 and the movie, it may be equally important for it to retain its childlike comedy chops.
This is easier said than done, but there's reason to believe that Gearbox will at least attempt to thread the needle when it comes to Borderlands 4's tone. While Sam Winkler has said that BL4 will have less toilet humor and awkward pop culture references, he also said that he "can't promise there will be no toilets," suggesting that he understands the importance of juvenile humor in Borderlands. Audiences will simply have to wait and see how this next chapter molds Borderlands' identity moving forward.
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
WHERE TO PLAY
Borderlands 4 brings intense action, badass Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant.
Crash into Kairos as one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities.
Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing Mayhem across the planet.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes - all platforms
- Prequel(s)
- Borderlands 3, Borderlands 2, Borderlands
- Franchise
- Borderlands
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unsupported
- PC Release Date
- September 12, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- September 12, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- September 12, 2025
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- October 3, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- Local Co-Op Support
- Yes
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
