With several years having passed since the release ofBorderlands 3, it’s hardly a surprise thatBorderlands 4is significantly different from its predecessor. Each of theBorderlandsgames has offered major shake-ups, with the second game delivering a stronger narrative alongside more environmental variety, and the third game featuring deeper Vault Hunter skill trees, smoother gunplay, and multiple planets to explore. In the case ofBorderlands 4, players are returning to a single planet calledKairos, but they will be exploring it in depth via multiple open-world-like zones. These massive areas likely wouldn’t have been possible without the shift from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5, though it is this very shakeup that could be problematic.
Perhaps the biggest fear that gamers could have aboutBorderlands 4’s usage of Unreal Engine 5 is that it will result in an unpolished product that takes multiple patches to clean up, as games likeThe Lords of the Fallen,Immortals of Aveum, and evenFortnitehave struggled with performance problems and glitchiness due to their usage of Unreal Engine 5. It is impossible to say for sure how the full version of the game will feel until it releases, asBorderlands 4previews only got a limited time with the looter-shooter. However, while the jury is still out on how Unreal Engine 5 andBorderlands 4mesh from a gameplay perspective, from a graphical standpoint, the existing footage paints a picture that might just be a bit too pretty.
Borderlands 4’s Unreal Engine 5’s Benefits Are Clear, But So Is One Problem
Gearbox has been quick to celebrate Unreal Engine 5 as a gateway to fresh opportunities forBorderlands 4, and it’s easy to grasp why. Tech demos likeThe Witcher 4’s tech showcasehave wowed gamers due to their graphical fidelity, while the accessibility of the engine allows indie developers to craft their own stunning games more easily. In the case ofBorderlands 4, Unreal Engine 5 allows for larger play areas and limited loading times, with fast travel stated to only take eight seconds. Physics-driven character and environment detail also add a sense of realism, with aCreative Bloqinterview providing the promise that “every blade of grass and every leaf in every tree is modeled… in high detail.” As expected, aBorderlandsgame built in Unreal Engine 5 is visually impressive, but an argument can be made that Gearbox may have gone too far.
With variousBorderlandscontent creators getting an opportunity to share gameplay of their early accessBorderlands 4sessions, it’s possible to see this detailed world that Gearbox has been talking about in action. While it certainly looks good, it arguably looks a bit too much like a traditional “good-looking” video game made inUnreal Engine 5, only with a cel-shaded filter placed overtop. The grittiness thatBorderlandshas always been known for just doesn’t seem to be there as of now, as the characters look so clean and polished that the series’ wasteland vibe has almost faded completely. Additionally, the game’s usage of color looks to be more muted and less distinct, which could cause enemies to blend into the world. When combined with the seemingly toned-down outlines, the art style feels like a slight step away from the series’ traditional look.
As with every game intheBorderlandsseries,Borderlands 4has a distinct HUD, and this too adds to the feeling that the new game is going in a different direction. Specifically, the new HUD feels more clean and sci-fi than all the others in the series.
For Better or Worse, Borderlands 4’s New Look is Thematically Appropriate
Though there may be mixed opinions on this visual overhaul, it does suit the vibeBorderlands 4is going for. In the aforementioned Creative Bloq interview, Gearbox’s Executive Producer and Lead Writer talked about how Kairos is not at all like the Wild West ofPandora, as it’s a world altered by a dictatorship. The game’s environments reflect this shift, and it would make sense for the rest of the visuals to do the same, regardless of whether fans are happy with the change. After all, if players are exploring a setting that houses less psychos and outlaws, it would make sense for the graphics to move away from the grittiness that was so closely associated with Pandora - even if it does feel a bit off.
WhileBorderlands 3was a big step up fromBorderlands 2visually, it very much still looked like aBorderlandsgame, both in its character design and in its various planets.Borderlands 4may feel a bit too polished, futuristic, and sanitized for those who preferred what came before, but if the open-world elements stick the landing and the game runs well, Unreal Engine 5 will have done the series more harm than good. Perhaps the aesthetic will even grow on those who are a bit taken aback by Kairos and its characters, as it can be hard to adapt to change whenBorderlandsplayers have grown used to the same look for six years. Perhaps all that will be needed is time, though for now,Borderlands 4losing a bit of that loudnessand edginess from an artistic standpoint feels like the first drawback of using Unreal Engine 5.
