Summary
Fans got another look atBorderlands 4at PAX East, and they have some big improvements to look forward to. While the third installment of the iconic looter shooter was met with largely positive reviews, fans and critics alike found plenty of areas where it could improve. So far, it seems like Gearbox Software has listened to the feedback, withBorderlands 4showing off a handful of changes to its loot, co-op, and more.
The recentBorderlands-focused State of Play showed off several noteworthy fan-requested changes to the series. It revealedBorderlands 4’s grenades and launchers will use cooldown timersinstead of ammo and won’t take up a weapon slot, gave fans a look at new movement options, and offered a brief but promising peek at its new-and-improved map. There was a lot to take in, but it seems that’s not all Gearbox has up its sleeve.
Asreported by PCGamesN, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford announced that the team behindBorderlands 4has completely revamped the co-op lobby. Navigating the menu should be easier than ever, and when players want to join a party that’s already gotten started, they can drop in at any point at any time instead of needing everyone to meet up at a specific location. It’s great news for those playing together online, but couch co-op players don’t need to worry, either. Gearbox had previously confirmed thatBorderlands 4will have split-screen multiplayer, a hallmark of the series.
Borderlands 4 Has Revamped the Franchise’s Co-Op and Loot Systems
The game is also introducing a fast-travel to friends option. Anyone who gets separated from the party can teleport back to them, no matter where they are. Considering howBorderlands 4will have a massive but not-quite-open world, that feature should come in handy. Getting separated from the group may easily put lots of distance between players if there’s enough for somebody to stray off and explore. Being able to fast-travel to the rest of the party would save a lot of time in that case.
Another co-op convenience comes in the form of level scaling, which ensures players won’t get overwhelmed when teaming up with higher-level friends. Instanced loot will also prevent party members from taking weapons that would be a better match for their teammates. As mentioned in the State of Play,Borderlands4is lowering its legendary drop ratesand scaling how quickly and often players encounter high-level loot. The change should make better weapons actually feel rare and avoid throwing too many mechanics at players all at once. All in all, there’s a lot to look forward to whenBorderlands 4drops this September.
