Borderlands 4 Struggles to Keep Players Interested as Familiar Gameplay Raises Questions About the Series' Future

Borderlands 4 had the chance to give the long-running looter-shooter franchise a new start, but more than a year after its release, questions remain as to whether it did enough to push the series forward. Gearbox Software resurrected many of the familiar features that made previous games popular, including mountains of weapons, character abilities, and chaotic combat.

The experience, however, can feel so much like that of earlier entries that the sequel struggles to carve its own identity. The game is reportedly struggling to get 5,000 concurrent players on Steam, and the long-term appeal of the game is a growing concern. This has left some fans wondering whether Gearbox has done enough to justify another full-priced entry in the long-running franchise.

What's even more striking is that Borderlands 4, during a later surge of interest, reportedly attracted more than 20,000 players, something the source commentary attributes largely to the inclusion of an attractive female character. While that may seem like a strange reaction, it also points to a larger problem around the game.

Players seem ready for something to make the franchise feel fresh again, whether that’s new characters, content updates that matter, or changes to the established gameplay formula. The game's player count on Steam doesn't represent its entire audience, since many people play on consoles, but it still offers one indication of how difficult it has been to maintain interest.

That doesn't mean Borderlands 4 is necessarily a mediocre game.

Its combat can still be enjoyable, and working through the endgame activities offers moments of fun, especially when you find powerful equipment and experiment with different builds. The problem is that much of the experience feels familiar if you've spent years playing previous entries. 

The gap between the third and fourth mainline games also gave fans plenty of time to expect something more ambitious. After waiting years for another major installment, players might expect Gearbox to deliver a new generation of Borderlands rather than simply expand on the existing formula.

Instead, the familiar combat, character abilities, and progression systems have led some players to question if the series has changed enough to warrant another full-priced release. Adding to an already difficult situation, the game’s image was also hurt before launch due to the controversy surrounding comments made by Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford about premium pricing.

One of the biggest selling points of the franchise has always been the variety of guns, and Borderlands 4 keeps that trend alive with a massive selection of them. In theory the potential for weapons is exciting, especially if you’re the kind of person who loves hunting down more and more powerful gear. But more weapons doesn't mean the loot system is suddenly more rewarding. 

The same applies to the playable characters and their powers. In the past games, the characters each had different abilities and ways of playing, so you had reasons to try different fighting styles. Look at Borderlands 3, for example. It took some risks with its characters, each of whom had abilities that could significantly alter your gameplay.

However, a few of the character options in Borderlands 4 can feel a bit too similar, like the basic formula hasn’t changed, only the specific skills have been tweaked. That makes it harder for the sequel to deliver the sense of discovery that helped earlier games remain memorable.

Critics have also noted that the story and antagonists fail to engage at a level that fans might expect.

But the source commentary says Borderlands 4 lacks a compelling villain to drive the looter-shooter to keep playing beyond the promise of better gear. If you don’t have a good reason to keep playing and the gameplay feels familiar, the overall experience may not be gripping enough to hold your attention. 

Even the game's larger world doesn't necessarily deliver the change some players expected. One of the features touted as a step forward is a more interconnected environment, but progression gates can keep you from freely exploring certain areas until you’ve advanced far enough in the story. That means the world may not be as open as it looks on the surface. The source commentary also questions the visual impact of the character physics, claiming that these details don’t do much for the experience in conjunction with the established art style of the game.

Visually, Borderlands 4 sticks with the franchise’s signature cel-shaded style, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing if things look familiar. The core gameplay loop, which involves shooting enemies, collecting loot, and improving your character, is also the same. Fans, however, generally want a sequel to preserve those defining elements rather than discard them. 

Many fans remember Borderlands 2 as a major upgrade over the original game for comparison. The characters, the humor, and the overall presentation kept it with a strong rep years after it came out. The source commentary even suggests that Borderlands 2 will have more players than Borderlands 4, but no actual player-count figures are provided to make that comparison. 

It’s a value proposition that’s tough to ignore, especially when you factor in the price.

The author of the commentary says that he liked Borderlands 4, but it was only worth the money when he bought it for about $20, which is about a third of the full price he was referring to. Not that every player will view the game the same way, but it’s a case of how familiarity can affect the reception of a premium release. 

Its launch was controversial; its familiar character abilities and questions about its world design have all played a part in doubts about its long-term appeal. With the Steam player count reportedly struggling to reach 5,000 concurrent players, more than a year after release, Gearbox can be forgiven for thinking about what the franchise needs next.

The series may not have to lose its identity, but its next installment may need to take more risks with its characters, progression, world design, and activities. “More guns and another campaign might not be enough to hold the players' interest for years to come. For now, Borderlands 4 is an example of how a sequel can retain what fans love while still leaving them wanting something meatier.