Key conclusions
- The Borderlands 4 teaser suggests the return of Lilith from her Phasewalking across a large moon or planet in the sky.
- Speculations about the return of Handsome Jack as the main villain in BL4 have been debunked by Randy Pitchford.
- BL4 needs to move away from Handsome Jack to allow for a new enemy and character development, and to keep the series from stagnating.
After a long time when the gearbox was silent and rumors were the only source of information regarding Borderlands 4the iconic looter shooter finally revealed itself at Gamescom, sparking many fan theories about what's to come in the next installment of the series. Not much is known at this point: the teaser showed a few familiar elements mixed in with new details, suggesting a big chapter is ahead. Borderlands 3The Director's Cut DLC confirmed that Lilith was still alive after the game's ending, and Borderlands 4The teaser confirms the same, showing her iconic fiery phoenix in the sky.
Not only that, but Borderlands 4The phoenix precedes the appearance of a giant moon or even a full teleporting planet, matching Lilith's phasing ability, which means it's probably her hand. Some fans also latched onto the frame, which shows the vault symbol in a way that seemed to match Handsome Jack's scar, as seen in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelbut this theory was quickly dismissed by Randy Pitchford himself, stating that it was something “much more dangerous and sinister”. Although this seems to confirm that there will be no Handsome Jack Borderlands 4villain, it doesn't confirm if the series is moving away from him.
Relatives
Borderlands 4 can ensure it's the best it can be by taking one series first
Borderlands 4 has an uphill battle with fans, but the first series could see the title flourish, allowing players to shape the final product.
Borderlands 4 risks cementing Handsome Jack as the face of the franchise
Why BL4 Shouldn't Include Handsome Jack
Borderlands 4 long overdue and if it is not delayed it will most likely launch in the fall of 2025, about 6 years from now BL3. Although Borderlands 3 was a huge game in its own right, moving the franchise forward in multiple directions, perhaps two steps forward and one step back due to its reliance on Handsome Jack again. This is understandable, on the one hand, since Handsome Jack has become the face of the franchise, and he is also considered one of the best villains in video games.
Jack, on the other hand, dominated everything Borderlands 2he was a huge part Borderlands: The Pre-Sequeland then had a DLC dedicated to his legacy in the Borderlands 3 as well as a side quest that shed light on the tragic history of Jack's family. With such a large shadow hanging over the franchise, it's no surprise BL3The villains were compared to Handsome Jack and they were no match for him. So Handsome Jack will “come back” in any form Borderlands 4 not allow the series to move forward, which is something it desperately needs.
Why does Borderlands 4 need a clean slate without Handsome Jack
Handsome Jack appears throughout the franchise, and his likeness also appears in the Tales from the border games on top of the main series. A brand new enemy has appeared Borderlands 4 sounds great, especially if this entity is actually much more dangerous and sinister than The border– Jack, but that's not enough. Instead, the new title should relegate Jack to a footnote for its own sake, perhaps appearing as an easter egg in some dialogue or text about weapons, and nothing more. Chances are, players will remember Jack anyway, but veterans and newcomers alike would benefit from watching the blank slate.
Over time it became almost an expectation to see Jack The border games given how often it was used. Removing this familiar element may not seem like the best thing to do, but it will allow existing characters to grow even more, just as it will allow new ones to shine brighter. Borderlands 4 there is a chance to deliver The Watcher's war, a long-standing part of the series that caused a big release after Continuationon which BL3 didn't really build much. When that happens, the gaming universe will need a lot of faces, both old and new – and as many Continuation it's a Handsome Jack game in a way, the Watcher's War should take place in a universe where Jack is a distant memory.