TheBorderlandsseries' weapons are getting a major overhaul inBorderlands 4, with the traditional randomized loot gaining an additional layer of unpredictability with the new Licensed Parts system, allowing a weapon to feature different parts from various manufacturers. However, one downside is thatBorderlands 4is ditching some past manufacturers like Hyperion, Dahl, and COV in favor of new ones like Order, Daedalus, and Ripper. With this shake-up toBorderlands 4’s weapons, the game may end up losing one of the series' best Legendaries in the process.
Several pieces of Legendary gear forBorderlands 4have already been revealed in pre-release gameplay footage. The community-compiled list ofall Legendaries confirmed forBorderlands 4so farcan help some players rest easy knowing their favorite series gear is returning, but one Legendary missing from the list could be disappointing for fans. The Butcher shotgun has long been a staple of theBorderlandsseries, but its absence in marketing material ahead of release is a worrying sign, and it may end up being cut from the game entirely for one clear reason.
Borderlands 4 Will Likely Lose the Series' Long-Running Diablo Easter Egg
Borderlands' The Butcher Legendary Shotgun is a Diablo Series Reference
Since the originalBorderlands, The Butcher has been a recurring weapon and one of thebest Legendary shotguns in theBorderlandsseries. Although it looks slightly different between entries, The Butcher’s high rate of fire for a shotgun remains its main claim to fame. To make this weapon even more appealing, it is also a clever reference to Blizzard’sDiablofranchise, featuring the same name asDiablo’s iconic foe and sporting his classic “Fresh Meat!” slogan as its description.
Diablo’s version of The Butchermay not be a weapon, but he can strike more fear into the hearts of players than any other boss in the series. The Butcher has appeared in multipleDiablotitles, but is most fearsome inDiablo 4, where he can appear randomly in dungeons and pursue players, boasting a high health pool and dealing massive amounts of damage.Borderlandsisn’t the only franchise to feature a reference to thisDiablomonster, with titles likeOverwatch 2,Fallout 2,andDead Islandalso including Butcher Easter eggs. It’s safe to say that The Butcher is one of the most iconic enemies in gaming, but he may no longer have a presence in theBorderlandsfranchise.
Why The Butcher Likely Won’t Return in Borderlands 4
Aside from the lack of confirmed footage of The Butcher shotgun in pre-releaseBorderlands 4gameplay, the main reason the Legendary is likely gone from the game is due to the removal of Hyperion weapons. In each of its appearances in theBorderlandsseries so far, The Butcher has been manufactured by Hyperion, a corporation that won’t have weapons inBorderlands 4. AlthoughHyperion is confirmed to be included in the Licensed Parts system, adding a front-facing shield to weapons with a Hyperion component, this doesn’t necessarily mean it will still be represented by an entire Legendary like The Butcher.
It’s possible that The Butcher will still be inBorderlands 4under a different weapons manufacturer like Daedalus or Order, but this hasn’t been confirmed.
WhileBorderlands 4is sure to have enough new Legendaries to justify some cuts, it will be disappointing if The Butcher really is gone, since it has endured since the series' beginning. The popularity ofDiablo 4meansBorderlands 4has an advantage that its predecessor didn’t in an even more timely opportunity to reference the latest entry in Blizzard’s classic franchise. However, without The Butcher,Borderlands' iconic Easter eggsmay be lackingDiablorepresentation inBorderlands 4.
