Borderlands 4 coming in 2025: First trailer is well received - but not every design decision

It was no secret that Borderlands 4 would be announced by publisher 2K at the Game Awards 2024. Franchise fans are happy. But the community isn't happy with all the design decisions.

There was much applause for the presentation of Borderlands 4 at the Game Awards. You can watch the first trailer for the official fourth instalment of the series, which should be available sometime in 2025, here. It's a good thing that there's already gameplay in the trailer. Once again, the so-called ‘exterminators’ are at the centre of the sequel and you will also be escorting them across Pandora in Borderlands 4. Accompanied by a guardian angel, the Exterminators, also known as Vault Hunters, are in search of a treasure chamber full of technology. The bottom line is that the gameplay should be more varied. Many different areas, fresh enemy types and, of course, you should expect new weapon deliveries. There's no doubt that Borderlands 4 will once again feature a crazy story, which is one of the main attractions of Borderlands.

Not everyone likes the new Vault Hunter design in Borderlands 4

But there is also criticism in the comments. The Borderlands franchise has always had an idiosyncratic, very comic-like look. One that sets Borderlands apart from other looter shooters and is almost unique in its form - alongside the typically funny characters. Borderlands 4 now looks a little darker in the first trailer.

But the most noticeable thing is that Vault-Hunters have to put up with a facelift in the new instalment of the series. Players criticise the fact that even enemies look more exciting than the main characters in the game. When revising the character design, they meant well, but didn't realise it well. Some people in the comments even speak of a character design that is reminiscent of Concord:

‘Vault-Hunters have the Concord design’ - Source: YouTube

Other comments chime in as well:

‘Why are the generic bandit designs cooler than our main cast of Vault Hunters? All 4 of them look so bland it's crazy. The guy on the left almost looks like Zane, and a downgraded Zane at that’
‘Borderlands 2 undoubtedly had the best Vault-Hunters in the series.’
‘Honestly, it would be wise to redesign the Vault-Hunters.’
‘It's the first time I haven't rooted for a Vault-Hunter. It does look like it has a character editor, but it still takes away a significant part of the flair of Borderlands’ - Source: YouTube

What do you think? Do the exterminators from older parts of the series actually look better? And is the first trailer even meaningful enough?