Summary
Borderlands 4’s release is drawing nearer, which means fans are likely to continue seeing more information about the game revealed. The latest reveal forBorderlands 4took place at the 2024 Game Awards, where a gameplay trailer showcased many of the game’s biggest features — like its Vault Hunters, seamless world, new vehicle system, weapons, grappling hook, and more. Also included in that trailer are several “confirmations” ofbelovedBorderlandscharacterswho will apparently be returning in the next game.
TheBorderlandsseries has never shied away from seeing its best characters return, so it makes sense thatBorderlands 4would be no different. So far, a few of the series' most memorable characters will be making a return inBorderlands 4, which suggests even more returns are possible.
Borderlands 4 Already Features Several Returning Characters
Zane Flynt Returns From Borderlands 3
One ofBorderlands 4’s returning characters is Zane Flynt, who debuted inBorderlands 3as one of its playable Vault Hunters. Unfortunately, Zane was arguably the worstVault Hunter inBorderlands 3, not on account of his lovable and charming personality, but simply due to his gameplay. Compared toBorderlands 3’s other Vault Hunters, Zane has a much higher skill ceiling, as his more viable builds are just about as complex as his backstory. Ultimately, this initially resulted in him having much lower damage output than the other playable characters before Gearbox released a balancing update that favored him.
Now that he’s returning inBorderlands 4as an NPC, however, Zane has a chance to rise to a position of noteworthiness that he missed out on inBorderlands 3. Since Zane will be an NPC rather than a playableVault Hunter inBorderlands 4, there are more opportunities for the game to develop his character, which is especially advantageous for him, considering his ties to the infamousBorderlandsvillains, Baron and Captain Flynt.
Claptrap Has Been Confirmed to Make an Appearance
Of course,Borderlands 4wouldn’t be aBorderlandsgame without the accompanying jokes and sarcasm of the lovable robotic mascot Claptrap, who has appeared inevery mainlineBorderlandsgameand several spin-offs. It’s currently unclear what Claptrap’s role will be inBorderlands 4, but his iconic humor and quirky personality will help make it feel more like a genuineBorderlandsexperience, regardless of where its story goes or what its world ends up looking like.
It should be noted thatBorderlands 4has been confirmed not to haveBorderlands 3’s excessive toilet humor, which would likely apply to Claptrap’s character in the sequel as well.
Nine-Toes Appears to Be Returning From Borderlands
A character who was spotted in the latest gameplaytrailer forBorderlands 4but hasn’t necessarily been outright confirmed to reappear is Nine-Toes, a bandit lord and the first major boss encountered in the originalBorderlandsgame. His supposed appearance inBorderlands 4raises a lot of questions about the game’s narrative, especially when it comes to its potential to explore time manipulation, since Nine-Toes was defeated in the first game. In any case, his inclusion suggests thatBorderlands 4may feature callbacks to earlier titles, potentially reintroducing familiar characters and storylines.
Gaige May Be Returning From Borderlands 2
Another character that has seemingly been revealed to return inBorderlands 4is Gaige, the Mechromancer fromBorderlands 2. A significant part of this theory comes fromBorderlands 4’s official teaser trailer, which shows a mechanical hand resembling Gaige’s picking up a psycho mask. Originally, this was thought to be the hand ofBorderlands 4’s antagonist, but the Timekeeper’s hand in the new gameplay trailer forBorderlands 4doesn’t match the hand shown in the teaser trailer, providing even further evidence of Gaige’s return.
As anticipation forBorderlands 4continues to build, the possible return of beloved characters likeZane Flynt, Claptrap, Nine-Toes, and potentially Gaige only adds to that anticipation. These familiar faces should help connect veteranBorderlandsfans to the latest entry with nostalgia and potentially deeper storytelling, especially for characters like Zane. Whether through heartfelt reunions or surprising twists, fans can expectBorderlands 4to celebrate what makesBorderlandsspecial.
