The story ofBorderlands 4seems to be going in an interesting direction. Recent entries in the series attempted to outdo the last with over-the-top humor and a focus on spectacle, butBorderlands 4appears to be going back to the franchise’s roots with a more serious tone and deeper consideration for the established lore.
TheBorderlandsseries is no stranger to controversies, from the poorly reviewedNew Tales from the BorderlandstoBorderlands 3’s problematic newcomer characters. However, there is oneBorderlandsgame that was more contentious than the rest, yet should prove essential to the story of the upcomingBorderlands 4:The Pre-Sequel. Despite effectively being ignored for years, it seems that thePre-Sequelis going to be as integral as it once was controversial.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Was a Controversial Title
WhereBorderlands 2aimed to expand on what the original game established,Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelwas much more experimental. The majority of the game is set on Elpis, the moon of Pandora. As such, players experience lower gravity than they are used to, and must manage their oxygen supply with their Oz Kit. Players can circumvent these controversial changes somewhat by playing as Claptrap, but since he is consideredone ofBorderlands’ most annoying characters, and his abilities are deliberately hard to use well, the trade-off isn’t worthwhile to those who dislike him.
In spite of its changes to theBorderlandsformula,Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelis still an important game in the series from a narrative perspective. Acting as the mid-point between the firstBorderlandsgame andBorderlands 2, the plot’s main focus was on filling the gaps between either title, showing how Handsome Jack rose to become the villain many loved and giving players the opportunity to play as a new range of Vault Hunters, some of which were based on bosses fans had defeated inBorderlands 2.Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelis the odd one outin the series, but it is no less important to the overall story.
The Pre-Sequel’s Story Sets Up BL4
Elpis Is at the Center of Borderlands 4
The inciting incident inBorderlands 4is a result ofBorderlands 3’s ending. After regaining her Siren powers and assuming the role of the Firehawk once more, Lilith teleported Elpis away from Pandora before it could collide with the planet. For years, the whereabouts of the moon and themystery of what happened to Lilithwere left unanswered, and while players need to wait untilBorderlands 4releases to find out the Firehawk’s fate, players finally have some clarity about Elpis.
Borderlands 4is set on Kairos, a prison planet that has remained hidden for thousands of years. Kairos’ veil was broken by Elpis, which Lilith teleported into the planet’s orbit, disrupting that planet’s oppressive order and acting as a beacon of hope for the inhabitants fighting for their freedom. Because it has remained concealed for such a long time, the world ofKairos is new toBorderlandsfans, andBorderlands 4will undoubtedly task players with exploring each corner of the planet, unraveling its mysteries, and helping its people to break free of The Timekeeper’s control. With the major role Elpis has already played in instigating the game’s story, the history of the moon explored inBorderlands: The Pre-Sequelcould have important consequences for Kairos.
Six years have passed since the events ofBorderlands 3, meaning that the effects of Elpis entering Kairos’ orbit have already had an impact on the planet itself. This event introducedEridium to the planet, an element introduced inBorderlands 2that became much more relevant to the series’ lore inBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel. Throughout the series, it has been used as a power source, as well as an addictive substance for Sirens to enhance their powers. However, its uses will be explored further inBorderlands 4,as evidenced by Vile Lictor, an Auger who has been using Eridium to experiment on himself and locals.
BL4 Could Be Tied to the Eridians
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelexpanded on the lore of theEridians, the alien race in theBorderlandsseriesresponsible for the creation of the Vaults. Despite the planet being concealed for millennia, it is known that Kairos does contain Vaults, implying that the Eridians have been on this planet at some point. Toward the end ofBorderlands 3, it was revealed that Pandora itself was the Great Vault and Elpis was its Vault Key, both of which were built by the Eridians. With the knowledge that Kairos may also be tied to the history of the Eridians, it’s possible that they and Elpis will be a significant part ofBorderlands 4’s story.
There may already be a link between the Eridians andBorderlands 4’s primary villain, The Timekeeper. ThoughBorderlands: The Pre-Sequelwas the first game in the series to explain to players who the Eridians are and their purpose throughout the story, their history was expanded upon more inBorderlands 3. Throughout the game, players can collect Eridian Slabs, the writings of Nyriad, a Siren who lived with the Eridians. Prior to his reveal as a major character inBorderlands 4, a passing reference was made to The Timekeeper in one of these slabs, listed alongside The Traveler and The Graveward, two Vault Monsters from past games in the series. It’s possible that theEridians attempted to seal The Timekeeperin a Vault to prevent his reign of tyranny, but ultimately failed. If true, this makes the link between the Eridians introduced inBorderlands: The Pre-Sequeland The Timekeeper that much stronger.
The premise ofBorderlands 4is already exciting, acting as a great introductory entry for newcomers without forgetting the fans who have stuck with the IP for years. Some of the games in the series’ past haven’t been as much of a hit with fans as others, but thestories that connect theseBorderlandsgamesseem to be the main focus moving forward. WhileBorderlands: The Pre-Sequelmight not have been to the tastes of all players, its setting - and, by extension, its lore - are poised to play an important part inBorderlands 4’s plot, with it being a missing link that may finally be picked up and connected back to the wider chain of storytelling in the series.
