Borderlands 3: Developed by Gearbox Software, Borderlands is a series of action role-playing first-person shooter video games that is hugely popular among hardcore gamers. Following the release and huge success of Borderlands in 2009 and Borderlands 2 in 2012, fans are eagerly waiting for the release of Borderlands 3. Back in January 2015, the makers announced that they are working on the future edition of the series, but following that they have not uttered a word about the title in development. That hasn’t stopped rumors from emerging online. In this post, we have rounded up everything we found on the much-awaited upcoming Borderlands 3. Dig right in.
Update 5: At the recently concluded GDC 2017, the CEO of Gearbox, Randy Pitchford revealed some new clues on the upcoming Borderlands 3. During the event, Pitchford launched the Battleborn DLC in which the new clue is embedded through morse code. The morse code reads, “Visit Prometea, Children of the Vault, We Are Not on Pandora Anymore, Tannis Is Not What She Seems, Do Not Open the Vaults”
The players need to decode the message which requires reversing the audio in numerous cases. So if we decode the morse code, let’s see what does it mean. The word “Prometea” is alien to the Borderlands players, but the term Promethea is very much known to them. Promethea is a barren planet where the Atlas corporation was discovered and after that was used to improve the weapons and ships by the help of the alien technology. So “Prometea” is a decoded version of Promethea.
Just like that, Tannis is a decoded form of one of the important characters of the game, Patricia Tannis. Tannis is one of the pivotal characters of the first installment of the Borderlands series and also features in the second iteration.
Moreover, Pitchford also demonstrated the Unreal Engine 4 in the GDC 2017 and also said it will be used in the Borderlands 3. Pitchford played a video, quite obviously not the actual game footage to show the game engine will look like incorporating a non-realistic art style.
Update 4: Recently there were conjectures that Borderlands 3 will be unveiled during “The Game Awards” on December 1, which turned out to be nothing but a mere speculation. Now fans are once again worried about the fate of the title. Some have gone ahead to speculate that Gearbox Software has altogether dropped the project. The rumors surrounding The Game Awards weren’t untrue and Gearbox did have something big and exciting to offer. But it wasn’t about Borderlands 3. The developers collaborated with People Can Fly and remastered “Bulletstorm: Full Clip.” Its official release date is set on April 7, 2017, after which, Gearbox Software may finally start with the Borderlands 3 project. As for now, the company has refused to make any official comment regarding the matter.
So where exactly does the series stand right now, after pushing out two massively successful main titles, one pre-sequel, and a number of spinoffs? The creators are obviously not ready to announce anything right away, but if you follow everything they have said and analyze them, you are sure to get a few hints. Pitchford has already said that they are already working on several ideas for Borderlands 3 and are willing to experiment with new things, so we know that there has been some progress. In addition to that, Borderlands 3 will have some of the most noted creative associates who had worked on the earlier games in the series too, so fans can rest assured that the new game will be the perfect blend of nostalgia and novelty.
[Update: Although Borderlands 3 is far from being confirmed, fans are hoping the title will be bringing new features to the table. With the kind of rumors and fan-made wishlists on the internet, we hope Gearbox understands and brings in the epic-ness that is expected from a game like this. Hopefully, the day when we’ll be hearing something on Borderlands 3 comes soon. It could be closer than one may imagine.]
All things considered, we think that Borderlands 3 is already in the works. Despite Gearbox not willing to give fans any real updates about the current status of the game, it makes sense to think that they have already delved into the creation of the next main entry in the series. Pitchford did say earlier that they would commence with the full-fledged creation of the new game soon after they were done with Battleborn, which came out in 2016. Considering that Battleborn did not perform as well as was anticipated of it, it is possible that Gearbox would want to come up with a bigger surprise soon.
Borderlands 3 Might Have a Different Title
Update 3: The rumor began a couple of months back when Gearbox teased on a couple of new details about Borderlands 3 during a panel at PAX East. From what Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford stated, it can be concluded that the game might undergo a title change. “Obviously, there is going to be another Borderlands,” Pitchford confirmed. And went on to state that “we don’t even know if we’re going to call it that.” Earlier there was a possibility that they may stick to the same name and that a change may backfire. But now new rumors have emerged that claim Borderlands 3 will positively have a title change. Gearbox is yet to confirm this and announce the new title.
However, we don’t expect a Borderlands game to come with an entirely new title altogether. But Pitchford’s argument is that there are already three entries in the Borderlands series, so perhaps the next one could carry any numeric besides the widely assumed “3″: “We want to think about the future and we want to think about what the next Borderlands is and we’re going to need some help. The fact is, we’re not working on a new Borderlands game, but we want to(…) We don’t even know if we’re going to call it that. We could call it Borderlands 4 for all we know,” Pitchford said. He even teased that it could be called Borderlands 5! “What we call it and what it is are things we care about, and we’re engaged about, but it would be irresponsible to share anything at this stage because almost certainly anything we’re thinking now is going to change between now and when we commit ourselves”, he added.
Borderlands 3 to be Set on an Alien Planet
Update 2: Players of “Battleborn Story Operation,” were hunting for Borderland 3 Easter eggs when they learned about hidden secrets found associated with Attikus and the Thrall Rebellion. What they learned has revealed a couple of new things about the upcoming title. As per Metalmass, for those who don’t already know, a major easter egg will be found behind the gates in Attikus and the Thrall Rebellion. The sight may look too congested with all that writing but upon careful concentration, letters start to appear. There is a Vault icon, which only appears in Borderlands titles and if you use that as an additional letter with the rest of what has been discovered, then you can spell the word – “Promethea.” You’d now that it’s the name of a planet in the universe of Borderlands. This is leading many fans to speculate that Borderlands 3 might be set on “Promethea.”
Update 1:
Despite the constant clamor from fans for updates, the developers remained silent at PAX West this year. The developers, Gearbox Software have yet again ignored fans’ requests that they reveal something pertaining to the highly anticipated game Borderlands 3. Gearbox has already confirmed that they are working on it and the studio’s Randy Pitchford announced on Twitter that’ll be putting new updates on some of their franchises, including Borderlands. But the only time the title was mentioned was when the panel talked about working on the original Borderlands alongside Scooter and Crazy Earl. It’s pretty obvious that Borderlands 3’s no-show at this year’s PAX West was more than disappointing.
Borderlands 3 Release Date
We expected Borderlands 3 to make an appearance at the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), but that didn’t happen. Reportedly Gearbox is busy creating another first-person shooting game, ‘Battleborn’. Now that the first downloadable content (DLC) of the game has been released, the company is shifting their focus on the highly anticipated third sequel in the Borderlands series.
Over the last couple of months, we’ve heard fans giving up on the title. But Borderlands 2 was the best-selling title in 2K’s history and has sold “well over” 12 million copies. So we are sure that the makers will definitely push to make the sequel happen. Randy Pitchford, the President of Gearbox, has twice confirmed at PAX South 2015 and PAX East 2016 in that title in currently in development.
We’ve heard that instead of Borderlands 3, the title may have a different name. However, Pitchford assured: “There’ll almost certainly be more Borderlands, but we need to figure out what that is.” When asked if Borderlands 3 was on its way soon, he said, “It depends on how you define soon.”
The primary reason behind the delay of Borderlands 3 is the way the game ends in the previous installment. In the last scenes of Borderlands 2, they discover a new galaxy map of active vaults on other solar systems. In Borderlands 3 we are likely to explore that. And by the sounds of it, developing a whole new world is a time-consuming task.
Moreover, the end of Borderlands, The Pre-Sequel indicates that the Vault Hunters are teaming up for war. The Watcher who saved Athena from being executed in the game seems to indicate this. Apart from that, the characters from Tales from the Borderlands could also join the fight and make the storyline more enriching and interesting. So in an attempt to include fresh and new ideas in the game, developers are taking more time in creating the game.
Not only that, but Gearbox is also trying to improve their Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) FPS titles to compete with the likes of “Overwatch” by Blizzard Entertainment. Introducing new characters won’t make a title better, but stunning visuals can enable better experience.
Looking at the launch date patterns of the past editions, we think, Borderlands 3 launch date would be set in September or October 2018.
Borderlands 3: Latest News & Rumors
The Creative Chief of Gearbox and the writer of the company‘s mainline Brothers in Arms games, Mikey Neumann, is writing the next iteration of the Borderlands series. Neumann also wrote the first edition of the video game. So when the journalists asked him about the storyline of the upcoming Borderlands 3, he jokingly replied, “Everyone dies horribly”.
But, on a serious note, the creative champion gave a hint or two about Borderlands 3. Moreover, Neumann is also considering the introduction of a new character in the upcoming edition. The character will be Scooter’s son, named Scooper, and will appear with a super high-pitched voice. Neumann said, “I did this whole Scooter thing, then I pitch-shifted it up like seven semitones so it sounds like a chipmunk and it was the funniest thing I’d ever heard.”
The main reason for introducing this character is to please Pitchford’s wife, who was devastated by Scooter’s fate in ‘Tales from the Borderlands’. Moreover, Pitchford also warned that Scooter might not make it to the upcoming edition of the Borderlands. The CEO further advised ‘Battleborn’ players to “look deeply” into the game for the content details as the game will come with some references to Borderlands 3.
Pitchford also tweeted that the company is going to reveal some major brand-new updates about Borderlands 3 and a few other games like “Duke Nukem,” “Homeworld” and “Battleborn” at the PAX West Conference which was held last week. But all the hype and enthusiasm among the fans regarding this third installment of the game are yet to be satisfied because Gearbox Software didn’t reveal anything significant and had only briefly mentioned the game. To say the least, it was disappointing. But we’re pretty sure that the makers are keeping things under the wraps for obvious reasons, and Pitchford has already stated that he wouldn’t want to cave in and give out details about Borderlands 3 that might not end up making it into the game when it finally launches. “Certainly anything we’re thinking now is going to change between now and when we commit ourselves,” Pitchford said.
Borderlands 3 Wishlist
Borderlands 3 will be launched with a truly open world, carrying forward the trend of the previous games like “Grand Theft Auto” and “Fallout.”Although nothing has been finalized yet, the gamers are expecting a massive enhancement in the interactive nature and the environment of the upcoming installment of this successful gaming franchise. Apart from that, Borderlands 3 is also expected to flaunt an improved gameplay and will come with some new excellent features. Read on to know more about some of the things that fans want to see in Borderlands 3.
Dynamic Environment: One of the most anticipated additions in Borderlands 3 happens to be a truly open world setting for a more enriching experience. While the previous games in the series have done a lot in terms of gameplay, making the setting open world would add great value and increased replayability for players. The best past about an open world setting is that a lot of things can be achieved with the maps, including incorporating a dynamic environment. Players could undertake the missions with the environment aiding them or going against them. In addition, the environment could be made to undergo changes in accordance with the natural events that occur wherever the creators want to locate Borderlands 3.
New, Crazy Weapons: Gearbox let players fiddle around and attack with some of the coolest virtual weapons that we have ever laid our hands on. There’s no doubt that Borderlands 3 will not disappoint on this count. We obviously want the old stuff that drove us bonkers to come back, but we don’t mind a few new weapons to be introduced. Pitchford has teased numerous times that Borderlands 3 will be the biggest game in the franchise yet, so we are sure that the scale would be extended to include such details that form the very basis of its popularity.
All we know is that the sky’s the limit for Borderlands 3, and we hope it will not disappoint after making fans wait for so long. To know more about what else could constitute the craziness, head here. And stay with us for more updated information on Borderlands 3 release date and news.
