Borderlands 4’s ‘Darker Tone’ Could Appeal to Newcomers but Disappoint Longtime Fans

Alright, so here’s the thing about Borderlands 4—or at least what everyone’s buzzing about lately: it’s gonna be darker. Like, they’re really pushing this as a major selling point. And honestly, I get it. Borderlands 3? Yeah, lots of toilet humor. Not everyone’s cup of tea—some actually loved it (go figure), but a lot of folks felt it kind of derailed the story. Doesn’t mean Borderlands 4 will totally ditch the laughs, but like, maybe it’ll calm down a bit, y’know? Make some moments pop more. Sounds like a win for newbies, but old-timers might be a bit meh about it.

Now, here’s where it gets a little weird—like, isn’t turning down the humor a bit counter to what fans want? But wait, hear me out. Humor’s been in Borderlands’ DNA from day one. Remember that goofy “My Brother is an Italian Plumber” thing? Dark moments, though, they’re no strangers here either. Borderlands 4 might just lean into that, and yeah, maybe we’ll see some big-deal deaths.

OK, so picture this: you’ve been hanging with these beloved characters and bam—they’re gone! It’s been happening since forever in the series, like with T.K., Bloodwing, Roland—ouch, right? Maya’s death in Borderlands 3 was a real kicker. So, when Borderlands 4 rolls around, we might have to say bye to more old faces. Darker stories and all.

What’s funny is new players might find themselves hooked if a big character like Zane or Amara bites the dust. Sets a tone, doesn’t it? But if you’re a longtime fan? Those deaths sting, man. Maya’s passing? Already tough, and then the DLC rubbed more salt in the wounds. Poor Krieg, right?

But hey, just because it’s getting dark doesn’t mean everyone’s gotta die, ya know? Could be just for mood-setting or something deeper. This new villain, the Timekeeper—a real charmer—rules over a dystopian empire with all this high-tech control nonsense. Dark? Totally. Handsome Jack vibes, anyone? But it doesn’t mean they’ll be offing every favorite character left and right. Could be more about heart-tugging plot twists. Too many deaths might just tick people off.

Gotta hand it to them, though—keeping things spicy with potential character losses but also deep plots. Yeah, Maya’s death was a sore point, but part of why the series is so gripping, right? Killing off major folks in Borderlands 4 could blow up in their faces, though. Got fingers crossed they strike the right balance.