Borderlands 4is finally on its way. Since its initial announcement in 2024, players have been given a look at what the next generation of the series looks like. From the new Vault Hunters to the guns and loot players can pick up throughout their journeys,Borderlands 4seems like an exciting new step for the series.
Recently,Borderlands 4became available for players to pre-order, showcasing its many different editions and what each will contain. The information for the Super Deluxe Edition has revealed a returning feature that fans of pastBorderlandsgames may be able to look forward to. Looking pastBorderlands 4’sSuper Deluxe Edition’s hefty price, that same feature could also prove problematic. It all remains to be seen, but it’s the definition of a double-edged sword.
Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Is Adding DLC Vault Hunters
A Possible Step Up from Borderlands 3
Some players may have been disappointed byBorderlands 3’s lack of DLC Vault Hunters. These had previously been a staple of the series sinceBorderlands 2, giving players the option of two additional Vault Hunters over the game’s lifespan.Borderlands 3didn’t add any new Vault Hunters as DLC, instead opting to give its existing four playable characters an additional skill tree. While this was an interesting approach, the cast of playable characters was noticeably lacking when compared to the previous two games.
The announcement ofBorderlands 4’s Super Deluxe Edition has put any concerns about this to rest, returning to form by guaranteeing an extra two Vault Hunters for the player to use once again. These are available as part of the Vault Hunter Pack, which can also be purchased separately. No further details on these characters have been given, such as theirBorderlands 4class or Action Skill, but the fact that the game will receive any DLC Vault Hunters at all is sure to ease fans concerned that the title would skip them again.
Why DLC Vault Hunters Work
DLC Vault Hunters are so important to players because they continue to keep the game fresh beyond its initial release. Each of the characters has skill trees that vary drastically from one another, meaning that a playthrough of any one character will feel completely different from the other.Borderlands 3’s approach of adding a new skill treeto the existing cast builds upon the character’s established abilities, but a new Vault Hunter has the potential to give an all-new play experience with abilities that contrast with the other playable classes.
However, it’s worth noting that player data shows that past DLC Vault Hunters were not played a lot as Gearbox has confirmed in the past. That doesn’t mean they’re not important, but it does mean that they are a balancing act.
As well as having varied playstyles from one another, DLC Vault Hunters add more diversity to the cast. The Vault Hunters that are available in the base game tend to loosely fit similar classes between games.Borderlandsalways has a soldier-type character, and the majority of the games include a playable Siren in the base cast, withBorderlands: The Pre-Sequelbeing the only exception. The DLC Vault Hunters usually allow players to play as unexpected characters like a doppelganger of Handsome Jack inBorderlands: The Pre-Sequelor a Psycho likeBorderlands 2’s Krieg.Borderlands 4could and should use its DLC to similarly stray away from the game’s standard classes with unique and creative Vault Hunters.
What makesBorderlands’ Vault Hunters great is that they play a prominent role in subsequent stories. Many take on a supporting role or appear as brief cameos in follow-up games, whereas others like Aurelia became boss characters inBorderlands 3.Borderlands 4could counter this tradition with its upcoming DLC Vault Hunters, instead givingexistingBorderlandscharacters a playable role. That’s only speculation, but it could be a lot of fun to revisit old favorites depending on how the story goes.
DLC Vault Hunters Need To Be Handled Carefully
While it’s exciting thatBorderlands 4will give players the chance to play as two additional Vault Hunters–somethingBorderlands 3fell short on–it’s not clear if this is actually for the best until this content releases. Players having more options is great, but whether these new Vault Hunters will be worthwhile won’t be known until their classes and skills are revealed. There’s a good chance that these characters will be adored much like theDLC Vault Hunters of pastBorderlandsgames, but players will need to wait for each to release after the game’s launch.
It’s possible, though, that these DLC Vault Hunters actually prove player data and lead to some preferringBorderlands 3’s approach. If the Vault Hunters that have already been seen inBorderlands 4are more enjoyable than their DLC counterparts, it may be a better approach to add more content to these baseBL4characters in the form of new skills. Players will already have established mains and less time with DLC Vault Hunters, and that’s asking a lot of fans who already pump a lot of hours into the game.
Another concern is that the inverse of this problem may be true instead. The four main protagonists of eachBorderlandsgame need to stand out from those of the series’ past while being appealing to different types of players. IfBorderlands 4’s Vault Hunterslack depth, it could be some time until the DLC Vault Hunters release to rectify this. This could also make players hope for the DLC approachBorderlands 3took to return, giving the lacking Vault Hunters another chance to shine with a 4th skill tree.
Regardless of how this turns out, fans of theBorderlandsseries have a lot to look forward to whenBorderlands 4releases on September 12. The confirmation of post-launch content is a great way to keep the content fresh and encourage players to explore the new world of Kairos in different ways, but how this content will be received remains to be seen.
