Summary
Borderlands 4will be blasting back onto the looter-shooter scene it helped popularize sometime in 2025. After a fairly lengthy hiatus, Gearbox Software recently officially confirmed the next title in the series, and provided some tantalizing looks at what’s in store for fans whenBorderlands 4’s latest trailer dropped at The 2024 Game Awards. As the next generation entry,Borderlands 4has some significant ground to cover in addressing some of the bigger mysteries and plot threads left open at the end ofBL3. Based on what’s been shown so far, it looks set up to do so through an intense and seemingly interdimensional conflict that will bring players to a new planet, among other details.
Ahead of release, the developer also noted that it will be changing up one longtime aspect of the series in the fourth installment, this being its overall tone and style of humor. This time around, studio CEO Randy Pitchford promised that fans would be facing a “darker, more serious” villain. Expanding on this,Borderlands 4’s narrative director Sam Winklerhas stated in no uncertain terms that it will be moving away from much of the “toilet comedy” and meme-based gags that have become associated with the franchise’s sensibilities. While this is an encouraging sign ofBorderlandsbecoming more self-reflective and mature, there are still components of its comedy that will probably be kept in place. In particular, it has usually had a healthy smattering of celebrity cameos, which is likely to remain the case forBL4.
Though it does not have a firm date yet, information from parent corporation Take-Two Interactive’s financial reports points to a fiscal 2026 window, indicating thatBorderlands 4’s launch will potentially be after May 26, 2025.
Despite Its Stated Shift to a More Serious Tone, Borderlands 4 Probably Won’t Abandon Celebrity Guests
Borderlands Has A Long Tradition of Featuring Great Celebrity Cameos
Even before it became a massive hit,Borderlandswas basically built for celebrity guests to appear. Its zany sci-fi setting and over-the-top nature lend themselves well to inserting famous figures for a good laugh. As it grew in popularity, Gearbox brought in some great major talent to voice various characters, often playing upon their public personas filtered throughBorderlands' signature satire. Sometimes these were bigger roles, like bosses or major NPCs, while others were more of a “blink-and-you-might miss-it” moment. Across the mainline titles andspin-offs likeTiny Tina’s Wonderlands,some of the most well-known celebrities to graceBorderlands' world include:
Borderlands 4 Will Almost Certainly Have More Celebrity Guest Roles
Although the story framework and comments from Gearbox aboutBorderlands 4aiming for a more serious moodmight seem at odds with having celebrities pop up in it to crack jokes, they could actually make for more effective use than before. After all, even the darkest plot can use some levity to provide moments of relief and catharsis for audiences. Notable guests appearing at unexpected points to deliver a perfectly-timed zinger inBL4would help break up the somber moments, and possibly be more memorable than if they were heavily peppered in.
The series also finds itself in a specifically amusing situation that it could capitalize on for comedic impact. Last year’s film adaptation didn’t land with fans or critics, and ended up widely panned. While this obviously wasn’t the scenario those involved were hoping for, it could still prove to be a silver lining.Borderlands 4now has the chance to poke fun at the movie, perhaps by featuring some of the film’s stars as different characters who humorously reference and make light of it. This would be in line withBorderlands' fondness for cameos while making the best of an undesirable outcome.
Given its history, fans probably expect at least a couple of celebrity spots in the upcoming entry. And while it intends to be a grittier adventure, there’s also the argument thatBorderlands 4can’t completely leave its absurd brand of comedy behind. It’s a good bet then that some recognizable and potentially surprising celebrities will appear inBL4to inject some hilarity along the way, which will hopefully serve to strike a good balance between its turn to seriousness while retaining one of its best and most prominent inclusions.
