WithTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsreleasing later this month, it could be awhile before the next majorBorderlandsgame is released. Despite the wait likely to be on the longer side, it is fun to theorize where the story could go in the nextBorderlandstitle.Borderlands 3’s Director’s Cut sets up the search for Lilith as the main plot point, so fans have some idea of what to expect, though Gearbox could still surprise players.
Whilethe search for Lilithis a solid enough foundation forBorderlands 4’s story, it could be made more impactful if Gearbox reuses a past storytelling tactic. BetweenBorderlands 2and3, there was a seven-year time gap in both the real world and in-universe, something that saw the characters aging alongside the player. ComeBorderlands 4, another time gap should be introduced that mirrors the time that passed since the release ofBorderlands 3.
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Why a Borderlands 4 Time Skip Would Help
The search for Lilith inBorderlands 4would instantly be made more impactful if Ava and the rest of the Crimson Raiders have spent years looking for their lost leader. IfBorderlands 4takes place right afterBorderlands 3’s Director’s Cut, not much time will have gone by since Lilith first disappeared. In turn, Ava and the other characters finding her would be a lot less impactful than it would if years had gone by since Lilith first flew into Elpis.
A time gap could also give Gearbox an excuse to introducenew planets forBorderlandsplayers to explore, as Ava could make it clear early on that the Crimson Raiders already searched for Lilith in familiar locations like Promethea and Eden-6. An unexpected breakthrough could happen at the start ofBorderlands 4, with Ava taking the crew of Sanctuary 3 into some uncharted territory to explore never-before-seen planets.
Another upside to the time jump, and arguably the biggest, is that it would give Gearbox the opportunity to further refine the character of Ava. Despite the controversy and near-unanimous dislike of the character,Borderlands 3made it clear she is part of the franchise’s future. A time skip would allowAvato get out of her angsty teenager phase and mature bit, withBorderlands 4potentially featuring a 20+ year old Ava with a new attitude that could win the community over. The Director’s Cut side missions were a step in the right direction, and letting Ava grow up some more could help even more.
A time jump would help give insight into how the stories of otherBorderlandscharacters are progressing, too. Fans could see how the Wainwright Jakobs and Sir Hammerlock’s marriage is going, while the Atlas corporation’s continued rise under Rhys’ leadership could be documented. Fans can see what Timothy has been doing with his second chance, how the B Team has grown, and whatMad Moxxiis doing with her casino. IfBorderlands 4is set right afterBorderlands 3, it would be hard to see the side characters’ stories developing in significant ways.
Lastly, another time jump would open the possibilities for more spin-offs likeTiny Tina’s Wonderlands. An in-between game likeBorderlands: The Pre-Sequelcould be released that helps fill in all the in-universe years gamers missed, for example. WhileBorderlands 4could still be solid without a time jump, the passing time was oneaspect ofBorderlands 3’s storytellingthat made sense. As such, it would be nice to see this trick used again in the nextBorderlandsgame.
