Summary
Gamescom 2024 got off to a bang with a highly anticipated announcement from Gearbox Games, with fans going crazy for the announcement ofBorderlands 4. The first main entry in theBorderlandsfranchise since 2019’sBorderlands 3,Borderlands 4is slated to release in 2025, with fans excited about what the fourth main entry has to offer. From its first entry, theBorderlandsfranchise has amazed players with its art style, wacky humor, and fun looter shooter gameplay.
With all the excitement being built forBorderlands 4, it’s important to take into account some of the legendary characters that the games have introduced players to,from the villainous Handsome Jack to the energetic Tiny Tina. With so many incredible characters to explore in theBorderlandsfranchise, it’s important for players to remember the epic stories these characters have been a part of. With that being said, some characters have perhaps already their perfect ending and shouldn’t return for the fourth entry into the landmark first-person shooter series.
1Lilith
One Of The Six Sirens Who Got A Heroic End
Lilith was introduced in the first game of the franchise as a playable character and returned in each entry thereafter and is a favorite for many fans. InBorderlands 2,the search andsubsequent death of her lover, Roland, provides an emotional core to the game.
InBorderlands 3,Lilith returned to provide missions to vault hunters and, ultimately upon the defeat of Tyreen,risked her life to save Pandora and Elpisby giving up her siren powers, with her fate not yet confirmed. With this sacrifice being made, it would be an appropriate ending to Lilith’s character arc, but with her mass popularity, it is unlikely that Lilith won’t feature inBorderlands 4.
2BALEX
The Tediore AI NPC Got To Fulfill His Purpose In Borderlands 3
BALEX was first introduced inBorderlands 3’smission “The Family Jewel” and his quick wit and plushie design made him a memorable addition to the game. Following a hostile takeover from GenIVIV of The Family Jewel ship, BALEX assists in taking back control and retrieving a vault key fragment.
Following the completion of this mission, BALEX is uploaded to The Family Jewel and restores the ship,completing his story arc along the way. Despite his popularity, this should be considered the perfect ending for BALEX, and he shouldn’t return inBorderlands 4.
3Athena
The Legendary Assassin And Retired Bounty Hunter
Athena, a former lance assassin for the Crimson Lance and a bounty hunter, was featured as a playable character inBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel. After Lilith’s men were ordered to kill her, TheWatcher saved her from a brutal death.
Since reappearing inTales from the Borderlands, Athena has retired from bounty hunting before being thrust back into her old life, hired by Felix to kill both Fiona and Sasha. However, depending on the player’s choices, Athena and Janey are revealed to be getting married. With this ending in mind, Athena should happily retire and live a quiet life not featured inBorderlands 4.
4Handsome Jack
Handsome Jack was the villain thatset the benchmark for theBorderlandsfranchise, always believing himself to be the story’s hero despite his devilish acts. Having tried to murder the vault hunters countless times, he was finally killed at the climax ofBorderlands 2.
However, Jack is known to have doppelgangers, including Timothy Lawrence, and could create clones. This could potentially give Gearbox Studios the option to bring back Handsome Jack to play a key role inBorderlands 4.However, the satisfaction of finally defeating Jack would be undone if this were to happen, so it would serve everyone well for him not to return inBorderlands 4.
5Janey Springs
The Junk Dealer On Elpis Has A Potential Happy Ending
Janey Springs played a supporting roleinBorderlands: The Pre-SequelandTales from the Borderlands, being a junk dealer on Pandora’s moon, Elpis. Throughout the story, Janey enlists the vault hunters to kill Deadlift and offers side missions from her shop in Concordia.
For the same reason as Athena, Janey Springs shouldn’t return inBorderlands 4.InTales from the Borderlands, Janey is revealed to be marrying Athena and therefore should be allowed the opportunity to be missing inBorderlands 4unless their relationship or its potential undoing could provide a relevant addition to the story.
6Sir Hammerlock
His Wedding To Wainwright Jakobs Provides A Perfect End To His Story
Sir Hammerlock is a memorable figure in theBorderlandsfranchise with his robotic arm and smashed glasses. Sir Hammerlock provided multiple side quests to players and was the title character of the DLC,Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt.
During theGun, Love, and TentaclesDLC forBorderlands 3, players are invited to the wedding of Sir Hammerlock and Wainwright Jakobs, the heir to the Jakobs Corporation. The wedding provides a perfect closing chapter for Sir Hammerlock’s story and therefore should not return inBorderlands 4, although it will disappoint many fans of the bold and refined adventurer.
7Krieg
The Playable Psycho Of Borderlands 2 Should Skip Borderlands 4
Krieg is a complex character within theBorderlandsfranchise,a former bounty hunter who became a psycho, which split his personality in two. One-half of Krieg craves violence, while the other side of Krieg is relatively sane when compared to other psychos.
Here lies the reason why the version of Krieg fans know should not return. During the DLC,Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluckplayers step into the mind of Krieg as he wrestles with the grief of losing Maya, providing closure for the character, for now. Krieg not being featured inBorderlands 4would allow for the emotional pathos of the DLC to further resonate with the character and players alike and allow for a changed Krieg to potentially appear in a DLC.
