Everyone’s Praising the World of Borderlands 4, But I’m Concerned It’s Lacking Something Crucial

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So, Borderlands 4 got rolled out to some media folks and content creators who breathe the Borderlands air daily. And guess what? They mostly dug it. Now, of course, you can’t please everyone. There’s chatter about Gearbox’s funky move to swap the mini-map for a compass, and something about Echo-4 losing its plot as a guide. Apparently, they’ll fix that before anyone gets their hands on it, though. But really, it’s not all grumbles. People are vibing with how you can tweak your moves and, oh, the boss fights are like laying golden eggs or something – so easy to farm, I hear. The whole open-world setup? Yeah, that’s got a nice pat on the back. Yet, I’m still holding my breath here.

Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve always loved those bite-sized zones in Borderlands. They make planets feel like home, you know? I guess I’ll have to dive into the game myself to see if this vast, seamless world is worth the hype. Folks are saying Kairos looks pretty sick, visually speaking, thanks to Unreal Engine 5. Fun fact! We didn’t see anything resembling a proper hub for BL4 during previews. Doesn’t mean it’s a no-show – could be Gearbox playing coy until release. But I’ve got some roots tangled in Sanctuary, so forgive me if I’m a little jittery about that.

Listen, I’ve been around the Borderlands block a time or two. Maybe more like ten. Every game, every time, those hubs just sucked me in. Sure, little places like Fyrestone and New Haven have their charm, but it’s the big boys—Sanctuary and even Concordia from The Pre-Sequel—that own my heart. I get the tingles just thinking about Sanctuary taking to the skies in Borderlands 2! And even though Sanctuary 3 confused me (I still got lost like, every time), pimping out Hammerlock’s room was a riot. Pretty sure if BL4 skips out on a massive hub, something like its cornerstone is just gonna fall out.

Strangely enough, outlets like IGN didn’t stumble across any fancy hub. But before we start flipping tables, hear me out—there’s this new spin on SDU upgrades. Instead of the usual romp to Sanctuary for souped-up gear via Crazy Earl or Marcus, you’re off solving puzzles in the wild. Innovative? Maybe. But a big ol’ Golden Chest chilling in some small town? Feels like a cosmic trade-off if you ask me.

Side note, though: Narratively, cooking up a new Sanctuary doesn’t quite gel, what with BL3 just wrapping up months ago. I guess it might happen if Kairos natives build us a sweet spot. But the Crimson Raiders whipping up a fresh Sanctuary? Seems iffy, right? A different hub would feel, well, different. No way around it.

Now, they might decide to axe hub worlds, but lemme tell you – I’ll miss them. Who doesn’t love desperately tossing cash at Moxxi for one of her rare sweeps? Or watching your buddy get turned into confetti by a grenade while spinning slot machines? Those funny little moments lived in hubs, and they’re what Borderlands is made of!

Okay, quick wishlist time – if Gearbox pulls a fast one on me and there is a hub, it better have all kinds of chaos like mini-games (hellooo, Borderlands Science!) and mad-crazy side quests. More decorations too, please! Oh, and a weapon test range that’s an upgrade from the last gig? Fancy. Just something not as twisty-turny as Sanctuary 3 would be divine.

To wrap it up, I’m psyched that peeps who got early dibs on BL4 are loving the open-world vibes. Fingers crossed that in this leap to big spaces, our beloved hubs haven’t just poofed. Shooting and looting might be the life-blood of Borderlands, but those hubs? They’re the heart.