Borderlands 4 Dev Reacts To Criticisms Over Borderlands 3’s Humor

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In a recent statement, the lead writer of Borderlands 4, Taylor Clark, discussed the game’s humor and tone. He mentioned that players might notice fewer jokes compared to Borderlands 3. Additionally, Clark likened the development process of Borderlands 4 to the “Simpsons era” for the team.

To VGC, Clark stated that Gearbox had certainly noted the feedback about Borderlands 3’s humor and overall mood. “We carefully considered all constructive criticism. As we craft our fresh universe, we aim for a tone that harmonizes with the unique planet we are developing.

In Borderlands 3, the planet of Pandora was similar to the Wild West. Contrastingly, the world of Kairos for Borderlands 4 is ruled by totalitarian forces. Given this, it wouldn’t seem fitting for everyone to be cracking jokes all the time, according to Clark. This aligns with the game’s narrative director stating that fans shouldn’t anticipate Skibidi toilet or Hawk Tuah humor in Borderlands 4.

Currently, senior project producer Anthony Nicholson shared with TopMob that Gearbox is particularly proud of their previous games and the witty jokes and overall humor they contain. Nevertheless, he mentioned that the world today, specifically in 2025, is not the same as before, and while Borderlands 4 intends to be highly humorous, they’re striving to make the humor feel more realistic.

In Borderlands 4, the humor is primarily driven by the Vault Hunters themselves, making it more about situational comedy among them rather than referencing elements from the real world as was common in earlier installments. This means that the jokes and funny moments stem organically from the characters’ interactions, giving the game a more grounded sense of humor.

Simpsons era

Clark pointed out that as Borderlands 4 is being developed, Gearbox Studios is encountering what he referred to as their “Simpsons period,” meaning they have amassed such a vast quantity of content over the years that crafting fresh narratives has become quite an undertaking.

In the creative workspace, someone might propose a solution for completing a mission, and another might respond, ‘That was used in Borderlands,’ he explained. To avoid repetition, we strive for originality; this is why our villains vary so much. We’re committed to maintaining a sense of novelty.

Borderlands 4 will be available on September 12 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 at a later date. The game’s standard edition is priced at $70, which has made the boss of Gearbox, Randy Pitchford, quite pleased as it was initially planned to be $80.

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2025-06-18 18:09