Summary
WhileBorderlands 3was not the perfect game many fans hoped it would be afterBL2, it was still very successful, but it makes a lot of sense for Gearbox to move away from it in some key areas with the upcomingBorderlands 4. For example, it’s almost a given thatBorderlands 4will include DLC Vault Hunters, both because fans were unhappy thatBL3didn’t and because the recent State of Play trailer mentioned that the four Vault Hunters shown so far are the ones “available at launch,” implying more would come. Likewise,Borderlands 4is shaking things up in its weapon department in multiple ways, including the fact that the game will feature eight manufacturers, of which three are entirely new.
It’s no secret that loot, specifically weapons, is one of the biggest parts of what makesBorderlandsgames what they are, as these titles are often marketed as having millions or billions of guns.Borderlands 4will most likely take this idea to new heights thanks to its changes to weapon rarity, availability, and components, all while featuring three new manufacturers with different gameplay benefits. These are called Order, Ripper, and Daedalus.
What to Expect From Borderlands 4’s New Manufacturers
Borderlands 4won’t feature all series manufacturersto date, unfortunately, cutting fan-favorites like Atlas and Hyperion. However, they may not be out of the loop entirely, as the new Licensed Parts system included a Hyperion shield found on a gun. To make up for the loss of other iconic manufacturers, the game adds three new ones with different abilities, though one of them may feel familiar to those who playedBorderlands 3.
Borderlands 4’s Order Weapons Explained
Borderlands 4’s Timekeeperis reportedly obsessed with order, and the Order weapons are appropriately made for his army. These guns are interesting because they can spend additional ammo to create more powerful bursts that deal more damage to enemies and bosses alike. Depending on how Order weapons are balanced, some gun archetypes may be better suited for these high-powered bursts, and this could even play into some of the Vault Hunters' abilities if they get a temporary weapon damage bonus. These bursts can also be fired back-to-back, meaning that players can save up ammo to unload on high-value targets.
Borderlands 4’s Ripper Weapons Explained
The Ripper manufacturer is indeed a new one, but it harkens back to theCOV weapons inBorderlands 3. This is because Ripper guns need to spin up for a moment before firing, but then can fire full auto for as long as players hold down the trigger. In comparison, COV weapons also need some wind-up time before firing and then fire full auto, but they also have a heat gauge that makes them “break” when filled, requiring a fixing animation to take place that essentially substitutes reloading. As such, Ripper guns seem inherently better, even if they share some DNA with COV weapons.
It’s worth noting thatevery Borderlands gameafter the first featured a spin on bandit-made guns, including: Bandit in BL2, Scav in BL: The Pre-Sequel, COV in BL3, and Skuldugger in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Borderlands 4’s Daedalus Weapons Explained
Last but not least, Daedalus weapons are currently the most mysterious of the bunch. This is because they are described as being able to use multiple ammo types and being quick to reload, meaning that players can likely keep firing for a long time with no particular issues. It remains to be seen if using multiple ammo types will also have other implications in terms ofBorderlands 4gameplay, but even if not, this can be an incredibly good trait for guns with inherently smaller magazines and reserves, such as shotguns. It’s easy to run out of ammo in long fights, so this new manufacturer may give players an edge in some instances over other guns.
