One of the most important features of a looter shooter – and the very reason behind the genre’s title – is its arsenal of weapons.Good looter shootersneed to offer a wide variety of weapons that are so satisfying to use that they become the main driving force behind the gameplay loop. TheBorderlandsfranchise knows this all too well, andBorderlands 4’s arsenal could already be destined for greatness.
2019’sBorderlands 3tried to go bigger than any entry before it, and in the process many of its systems lost the laser focus they had in previous installments. Weapons, for instance, greatly suffered from this bigger=better approach as players were constantly bombarded with guns that barely stood out from another. This, in turn, had a significant impact on the game’s pacing, as the grind for loot didn’t feel nearly as special as it once did.Borderlands 4seems to be pairing things back a bit when it comes to weapons, and that includes the removal of some of the franchise’s most beloved weapon manufacturers. But there’s still time for a swansong.
Borderlands 4’s Cut Weapon Manufacturers Shouldn’t Be Forgotten
Every Borderlands 4 Weapon Manufacturer Confirmed So Far
At the time of writing, there areeight weapon manufacturers confirmed forBorderlands 4. Those eight include three brand-new weapon manufacturers:
Joining these three exciting new weapon makers are five returningBorderlandsweapon manufacturers, some of which have been a staple of the franchise since its very inception:
Some Iconic Borderlands Weapon Manufacturers Aren’t Returning in Borderlands 4
Astute fans might already realize thatBorderlands 4’s list of confirmed weapon manufacturersis missing some of the series' most iconic brands. There are four weapon manufacturers that won’t be returning inBorderlands 4, at least not in the usual capacity:
While it makes lore sense forBorderlands 4to leave COV and Hyperion weapons behind after the defeat of their respective leaders, it’ll still be sad to see them go. And it’ll be even stranger to say goodbye toDahl and Atlas, two weapon manufacturers that have been in the franchise since its 2009 debut.
Borderlands 4will feature a Licensed Part system that will let players find weapons that feature an assortment of parts from different manufacturers, such as a gun with a Maliwan barrel and Torgue magazine. Atlas and Hyperion aren’t getting fully-fledged weapons of their own, but they will at least be present inBorderlands 4’s Licensed Part system.
Why Players Should Go Back and Give These Borderlands Weapon Manufacturers a Final Send-Off
Before players eagerly jump intoBorderlands 4this September, they might want to consider hopping back intoBorderlands 3for a few hours or so, just to give these weapon manufacturers one final send-off. Dahl, Atlas, Hyperion, and even COV all brought something unique to the table, and they deserve one final shot in the spotlight before they’re put on the back burner, or potentially even left in the dust altogether.
ReplayingBorderlands 3will also be a great way for players to refresh their memory onBorderlands 3’s loot grind, gunplay mechanics, and progression systems, so that they can go intoBorderlands 4with a good idea of what they liked about its predecessor and what they want the long-awaited follow-up to improve upon. Prioritizing these weapon manufacturers during a replay will also give players a strong foundation for any comparisons they might want to make betweenBorderlands 3andBorderlands 4’s weapons.
