From the moment of its first reveal, it's clear that Borderlands 4 has been doing its best to create some space between itself and its predecessors by exploring different avenues of innovation in its gameplay and narrative. At the same time, the blood of Borderlands still very much runs in its veins, which means it can be expected to follow familiar patterns the series has established over its 15-year lifespan. Unfortunately, these patterns aren't always the easiest to digest, and Borderlands 4 is already showing some signs of heading in that very direction if its returning characters are any indication.
While there are likely even more that have yet to be revealed, Borderlands 4's returning character roster includes some of its most memorable personalities, for better or worse. From the iconic Claptrap to everyone's favorite bar owner Moxxi, the upcoming sequel is poised to not only do a little bit of fan service but also keep itself grounded in the Borderlands universe. However, while it might be nice to see some of these faces return to the fray, one or both of them could be doomed from the start, if the series' history has anything to say about it.
Borderlands 4's 'Darker Tone' May Be a Blessing For New Players But a Curse For Existing Fans
Borderlands 4 is marketed as having a darker tone and story than its predecessors, which may be great news for newcomers and bad news for veterans.
Borderlands 4's Returning Vault Hunters Set Up a Familiar but Painful Pattern
Zane and Amara Are Returning Vault Hunters From Borderlands 3
While their roles in Borderlands 4's narrative are still unknown, Borderlands 3's Zane and Amara are both slated to return in the next entry. The Borderlands series has always featured at least one returning Vault Hunter in each new installment, often as a familiar face to help bridge the gap between generations. But that familiarity has also come at a cost, as returning Vault Hunters haven’t always made it out alive, and this might especially be the case with Borderlands 4, given its darker, more serious tone.
Of course, not all returning characters carry the same level of risk. Claptrap and Moxxi, while important, have generally remained out of harm's way in past entries, largely serving as comic relief or side mission staples. Vault Hunters, on the other hand, tend to be at the heart of the action, which puts them in a far more vulnerable position. That distinction matters, because if Borderlands 4 wants to make a serious statement with its darker tone, then it makes more sense for it to target characters who players have had firsthand experience with.
Zane, Amara, or Both of Them Could Be on the Chopping Block
Historically, the Borderlands series has killed off one returning Vault Hunter in each installment, which doesn't bode well for Zane and Amara in Borderlands 4. For example, Roland, a playable Vault Hunter from the original Borderlands, was slain in Borderlands 2, and Maya, the playable Siren from Borderlands 2, was killed in Borderlands 3. While this pattern has only been established through two instances, there is enough reason to expect it could continue in Borderlands 4 with Zane, Amara, or both of them.
Returning Vault Hunters haven’t always made it out alive, and this might especially be the case with Borderlands 4, given its darker, more serious tone.
In some way, Borderlands 4 needs to increase the stakes if it hopes to sell its darker tone, and doing so would also make the Timekeeper a more sinister threat. As such, it's clear that one way it could accomplish this is by continuing its tradition of killing off a returning Vault Hunter, and in the case of Borderlands 4, that Vault Hunter is either Zane or Amara. If it wanted to go the extra mile, however, it might just decide to slay both of them. Either way, players should keep an eye on these two characters in particular as Borderlands 4 nears its release date.
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
