What Borderlands' New Collection Says About Borderlands 4's Release Window

Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box is a big release for fans of the series, but it could be unintentionally telling for Borderlands 4's future. Those who are interested in the Borderlands games will undoubtedly be able to find good value in the collection. However, even with so much content at the player's disposal, they could still be left wondering about the next game in the franchise. In fact, the existence of the collection itself could be telling regarding Borderlands 4's eventual release. At least, one can make fair assumptions from the circumstances of its release.

Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box includes every game in the Borderlands series, except for last year's spin-off Tiny Tina's Wonderlands and the mobile game Borderlands Legends. That means that players can get the first three numbered games, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and both installments of Tales From the Borderlands in one package. In addition, all the DLC and add-ons from these games is included as well, making it the most complete Borderlands collection made available to date. With six full games altogether, players will have a lot of gameplay to look forward to, whether they're revisiting the series or playing for the first time.

RELATED: Why Level 72 is Special in the Borderlands Franchise

Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box Could Hold Fans Over Until Borderlands 4

Pandora's Box isn't the first Borderlands collection to be released, as 2015's Borderlands: The Handsome Collection beat it to the punch. However, The Handsome Collection was a far smaller package, only featuring Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel. Since those were the two games that prominently featured the series' iconic villain Handsome Jack, that makes sense for the bundle's title. That also explains the otherwise-puzzling decision to leave out the first game. Just like Pandora's Box, it was the best way at the time for players to get Borderlands games on the latest console, but the two could also share a second similarity as well.

The Handsome Collection came out three years after Borderlands 2, and three years before Borderlands 3. Since the wait for Borderlands 4's release is still ongoing, there's a chance that Pandora's Box could be playing a similar role to keep the series relevant during the wait for a new installment. By that logic, since Borderlands 3 came out four years ago, that would mean that it could be another four years until Borderlands 4, with Pandora's Box marking the halfway point between the two. While it's not definitive proof of anything, it would make sense as a tactic to keep fans thinking about the series.

The fact that Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box has so much to offer would make it effective for holding fans over until Borderlands 4. Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box's massive size is made up of several fairly long games, so there is more than enough to keep someone playing for quite a while. If Gearbox wanted to use it to fill the gap between the next two games, then there probably aren't many more effective ways to do so. It's highly likely that a player will be able to finish every game in the collection before Borderlands 4 comes out, but that would only build more anticipation for the game.

Borderlands 4 may be subject to much speculation, but its release date is still a complete mystery. Even with what little fans may know about Borderlands 4, they still need something to do while they wait for it. Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box might be the best move that Gearbox has for the series at the moment in that sense. While it's not reinventing past games, it is making them available again for players to enjoy in the meantime. If Pandora's Box follows in The Handsome Collection's footsteps, then Borderlands 4 could very well be four years away.

Borderlands Collection: Pandora's Box is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: Every Borderlands Tradition that Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Broke