Borderlands 4 Takes a Bold New Direction, but 2K May Have Sacrificed Some of Its Essence – Preview

I’m staring at Borderlands 4, and it’s like seeing an old buddy in a new suit. Slicker, sharper, less of that chaos we all kinda loved, right? The game’s gone for a big ol’ makeover, like swapping out your trusty old sneakers for shiny new boots. But, dang, did they toss out a bit of its wacky soul with that? Feels like it.

So, let’s talk new places. We land on Kairos. It’s fresh territory—no crazed Claptraps here yet until, bam! A moon smashes in like the universe’s rudest guest. New faces, old guns, a swirl of everything kinda but not really like before. It’s a mix, almost like a smoothie where someone snuck in some weird vegetables.

Anyway—where was I? Oh yeah, visuals first. Game’s pretty! I’m wandering through two tiny areas, green and open, like nature just exploded everywhere. No more digital loading screens cutting up the fun, thank goodness. Imagine rolling off ramps, not knowing if you’ll find treasure or tumble into a canyon. That’s the vibe here. Destiny-ish vibes, which—don’t hate me—feels kinda nice.

Buuuut, here’s the kicker. Open world, open problems. Big spaces mean finding stuff to do, right? And here? Not so much. I stumbled into a spaceship fight once, but mostly it’s just… driving. Oh, I adore the driving, so smooth you’d think the devs majored in wheel physics.

Guns are as nutty as ever. Snipers blast elemental stuff. Shotguns? They’re walking murder-bots. It’s what you love, but they’re mixing up gun brands now, so your trusty old Jakobs ain’t what it used to be. Guns feel like a cereal soup of features, maybe a good thing, maybe not. I miss the old flavors, though. You know what I’m talking about? Like, was it a Ferrari or a Bugatti last time I checked under the hood?

Oh man, I’m rambling. Sorry. Focus.

Humor got an upgrade—or downgrade? Borderlands is trying on this serious face, ditching the off-the-wall antics for something less… in-your-face. The quests? Some make you chuckle, like Claptrap’s weird lakehouse adventure. Others, though? Pure dullsville. I mean, who wants just a straight-up dog hunt? Give me some banter, some edge!

Anyway, when Borderlands 4 steps into emotional territory, there’s a bit of boldness. You can feel Gearbox trying hard, waving bye to the old. It’s gutsy! But still, I’m like, “Bring back my wild, quirky Borderlands, please?”

I got a taste of a vault—and let’s just say, it was a wild beast of a boss fight. Think grappling vines and figuring out body weaknesses. Highlight of my time for sure. But when the treasure room holds just two crummy chests? You walk away with a blah-green gun. Left craving that old spark, you know?

Previewing Borderlands 4 was like getting a sample when you want the whole cake. It’s got chops, it’s definitely a new beast, but it’s one you gotta approach with clear eyes, ready for change. Does it still have that magic essence? Yeah, a bit, but it’s morphed. And if you’re clinging to those old game feels—you might find yourself feeling a bit shredded, and nope, there’s no joke cracked about it either. Just a bit melancholic… and curious for what’s next.