While the core element of the Borderlands series may be looting and shooting, its gameplay has always been rooted in its overarching narrative, with many unique and eccentric characters serving as the driving force for that narrative. Characters like Lilith and Borderlands 2's Handsome Jack have long been considered some of the most memorable for their compelling arcs and evolution, but the series' Vault Hunters have not been left out of recognition either. Now Borderlands 4's Vault Hunters aim to keep that tradition going, though not necessarily in the same way.
Borderlands 4's Vault Hunter roster, as exciting as it might look, currently excludes one Vault Hunter type that might have helped shed some light on a mystery that began in 2012 with the release of Borderlands 2 but wasn't labeled a mystery until the launch of Borderlands 3. That mystery is the strange connection between Borderlands 2's Zer0 and Borderlands 3's FL4K, two numbered killers whose shared traits have fueled years of fan theories. The problem is that Borderlands 4's Vault Hunter lineup doesn't feature another numbered robot, so unless there's an unannounced storyline involving Zer0 or FL4K, or a numbered robot character is added later in DLC, the game might leave the mystery unsolved for now.
Borderlands 4's Missing Vault Hunter Archetype Could Stall a Major Lore Mystery
Zer0 and FL4K's Unanswered Connection
Zer0's debut in Borderlands 2 immediately set them apart from every other Vault Hunter before them. Their cloaking technology, numerical naming, and deliberate secrecy have kept their identity shrouded in ambiguity for more than a decade. Borderlands 3's FL4K then only deepened the intrigue, with similar abilities, the same four-digit hands, and even skill names that resembled Zer0's. Needless to say, it's difficult to look at the similarities between the two characters and not see them as more than coincidence. As a result, theories have formed that one day the series might reveal a larger story beneath the surface.
Despite their popularity, neither Zer0's nor FL4K's backstory has ever been fully explained. Fan theories have suggested that they are products of a secret corporate program or that they belong to a hidden faction yet to be revealed in the Borderlands series, but no mainline or spin-off game has ever confirmed or denied those theories. It could be that Borderlands 4's Timekeeper has something to do with them, especially considering he has an army of robots, but as things stand currently, there's no reason to expect any lingering questions about them to be answered.
Why Borderlands 4 Needs Another Numbered Robot
Adding another mysterious numbered robot to Borderlands 4 would be a huge narrative opportunity with a massive payoff, particularly for the franchise's most devoted fans. A new Vault Hunter in that mold could act as a bridge between Zer0 and FL4K's stories, revealing the origins of their design, their purpose, and whether they are part of a larger plan that spans the series. It could also offer a type of gameplay that Borderlands 4's current Vault Hunters lack.
Of course, it can't be ruled out that Borderlands 4 has plans to solve or at least progress this mystery at some point in its story or in future DLC. The Borderlands series has added more Vault Hunters to the roster in post-launch updates in the past, and it could also be that, again, Borderlands 4's Timekeeper and his Order of machines have something to do with it all. Perhaps the Timekeeper is the true overarching antagonist of the series and that will be revealed at some point during the game's story. At the very least, Borderlands can't afford to let this mystery be little more than background noise, so hopefully, it will address it sooner rather than later.
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
