Threads
- Borderlands series is going through troubled times following the movie’s massive flop.
- Since Borderlands 3, the developer Gearbox has undergone management changes twice, creating uncertainty.
- Borderlands 4 is now announced, and this is the perfect opportunity to set things straight for the series.
About a decade or so ago, looter shooters were one of the big things around. Teaming up with your buddies and taking out foes to gather sweet loot, it started as a subgenre of games like Diablo but quickly became its own thing. And a lot of it was thanks to Borderlands.
It can be argued that Destiny stood the test of time, but Borderlands’ perky characters, hilarious plot subtones, unique cel-shaded visuals, and creative shooting mechanics revolutionized the genre. Unfortunately, the series suffered a heavy blow recently.
Why it matters: After the Borderlands movie flopped hard and the changes around Gearbox, it’s up to Borderlands 4 now to redeem the series’ good name.
The Borderlands Movie Was A Disaster
Live-action adaptations of video games are on the rise these days. I honestly still don’t know how to feel about this. The constant fear of “just because this one succeeded, doesn’t mean the next will” always looms over me. One successful project comes along, and then suddenly, every game is getting a movie or TV series, and this fear climbs.
We have had some pretty well-done works recently, so just as I was starting to ease up to the notion, Borderlands came along and instantly shattered the positivity in me.
The Borderlands movie didn’t make a good enough first impression, and things just became worse as time passed. Ultimately, the movie was released, and needless to say, it was an abomination. It did everything not to do, resulting in a soul-less, uninspiring, and overall dull presentation.
The Borderlands movie was horrible
byu/ShadowOfDespair666 inborderlands3
The movie gets everything wrong about what it means to be a Borderlands project. With no peculiar character interactions, misplaced and cringe-inducing humor, and a barebones plot with nothing innovative, the movie is a waste of time. And time isn’t all it wasted; a $90 million loss followed suit.
A Lot’s Riding On Borderlands 4 Now
Borderlands movie cost close to 120 million dollars to make, while it only made a measly $32 million, leading to a massive loss. A fumble so hard doesn’t bode well for the series as a whole, especially after the skepticism resulting from Gearbox changing hands two times in a short time span.
Well well well… are we at all surprised at the borderlands movie flop?
byu/L0ST7J inborderlands3
First, it was bought by Embracer, whose foolish ambitions finally caught up to it, and then, Take-Two Interactive, which was necessarily a return to its prior state. The situation at Gearbox has changed twice now. We were yet to see if the developer was affected in any way, and the Borderlands movie came in to ruin the series’ good name.
I don’t think this one’s on Gearbox, but the brand name suffered regardless. Shortly after the movie, Borderlands 4 was officially revealed with a 2025 release. With all that has happened recently, there’s a lot at stake. The upcoming game practically carries the series’ future on its shoulders.
A Return To The Series’ Peak Is Needed
Gearbox has the opportunity to set things straight with Borderlands 4. The series just received a fatal blow and lost millions of dollars, and people are still wondering if Gearbox was affected in any way by the purchases. If the developer wants to get a clean slate, it needs to go extra hard on this one.
And what better way is there than bringing back that iconic Borderlands magic we know and love? I think the game that Gearbox should take the most inspiration from is Borderlands 2. There’s no doubt 3 has better QoL upgrades and gameplay mechanics, but 2 is still the better game.
Everyone can agree I think that borderlands 2 is one of the greatest games of all time and a true masterpiece in my opinion
byu/Sirdantortillasque inBorderlands2
The deeply entertaining story and overall presentation of Borderlands 2 and its DLC still take the cake for me. You might consider the third your favorite, so here’s an idea. We agree that 2 has the better story and 3 has better gameplay. How about Gearbox put those two together in the next one?
I’d Hate To See Another Fumble
I’ve always said if 2 had the gameplay and QoL of 3, it would’ve been the ultimate Borderlands game. We didn’t know this back during Borderlands 2’s time, but we know this now. Gearbox has the opportunity to make Borderlands 4 the ultimate game.
Well, ultimate or not, Borderlands 4 has to be a hit for both the fans and Gearbox’s sake. It’s been a long time since Borderlands 3, and with how badly the movie flopped, the series is in troubled waters. It has lost money, its followers are confused, and the sale has created uncertainty. Gearbox needs to make sure these fears are alleviated.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔
Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
Join Our Community
