When layoffs and downsizing start to make the headlines every other day, you can almost always expect an elaborate game of corporate musical chairs. This might explain why Gearbox Software has now found itself cozying up with Take-Two Interactive – and once again cooking a new Borderlands game.
This move comes after Embracer’s somewhat eyebrow-raising decision to part ways with Gearbox for $460 million, a mere fraction of the $1.3 billion it originally forked over just three short years ago. Inevitably, this acquisition has raised many questions, including the future of the Borderlands IP, which will soon make the jump to film.
While this high-stakes game of pass the parcel was taking place in the background, David Ismailer, 2K’s fearless leader, let slip that Borderlands 4 is not just a pipe dream but is, in fact, in the throes of “active development”, whatever that even means anymore in AAA terms.
Though the announcement stopped short of naming the upcoming title Borderlands 4, we’re gonna have to call it something until we learn whether it’ll be the ‘Sequel-sequel’ or whatever. Also, when you’ve got Gearbox’s co-founder Randy Pitchford getting all poetic about how this unannounced game is “the greatest thing we’ve ever done,” it’s hard not to get a tad giddy with excitement.
If we rewind the clock to February, we’ll recall Gearbox’s founder teasing that Borderlands 4 was shaping up to be their greatest masterpiece. It was an odd way to confirm a game’s existence, sure, but it certainly got people talking.
Now, with Take-Two’s acquisition of Gearbox from Embracer’s restructuring fire sale, it’s all hands on deck for what will hopefully be another chaotic, loot-filled romp through the Borderlands universe. Of course, every company will upsell its future projects, so we’ll have to wait and see how much credence the marketing speak has.
Borderlands 3, which was released in September 2019, was the fourth main entry in the Borderlands series. The game built upon the visual style of its predecessor with more detailed environments, improved lighting, and textures.
Gameplay mechanics were also improved upon, adding sliding and mantling, which made combat more lively. Fans clearly appreciated these changes, as the game sold more than five million copies in just five days.
If Gearbox can manage to deliver much better writing than Borderlands 3 (no more weak humor please), then the upcoming Borderlands game can truly surpass expectations. Once upon a time, Pitchford hinted that the next generation Borderlands game would be built on Unreal Engine 5.
However, now that Gearbox is under new management, it remains to be seen whether the Texas-based developer will proceed with Epic Games’ latest game engine. We’d be very surprised if they shifted engines right after this particular acquisition, though.
Before we even get to lay our grubby mitts on Borderlands 4, there’s the small matter of the Borderlands film, which is poised to springboard us into a Borderlands Cinematic Universe. The long-awaited film is scheduled to release on August 9.
