Summary
Borderlands 4’s highly anticipated State of Play showcase has finally taken place, giving fans a deep dive into its gameplay, story, and world. Gearbox went into detail about many different aspects of howBorderlands 4is attempting to evolve the series' gameplay, with one of its more substantial changes involving the rate at which legendary items drop. After quite a bit of contention surrounding the regularity ofBorderlands 3’s legendary drops, Gearbox is responding to those criticisms by lowering the drop rate of legendary items overall in an effort to restore the thrill of discovering legendary items.
DuringBorderlands 4’s State of Play, creative director Graeme Timmins acknowledged how muchBorderlands 3"devalued legendaries," going on to say that they’ve now “overhauled our drop rates and loot across [Borderlands 4]” to make rarity matter again, aiming for their “most satisfying loot chase ever.” While that could make the grind for loot more satisfying in the long run, lowering the drop rate of legendary items inBorderlands 4could still come with some potential downsides.
The Pros of Lowering Legendary Drop Rates in Borderlands 4
Lower Drop Rates May Restore the Prestige of Legendaries
One of the main benefits to lowering the drop rates of legendary items inBorderlands 4is exactly what Gearbox intended in the first place — to restore the prestige of legendaries and increase their value. During the State of Play, senior producer Anthony Nicholson added to Timmins' sentiment about legendaries, emphasizing that the team worked hard to ensure all gear feels better than ever, with legendaries becoming “truly special events.” Ultimately, an adjustment like that should, in theory, make findinglegendary items inBorderlands 4more exciting. The main issue will be ensuring the grind for legendaries is balanced with the frequency of their appearance.
Lower Drop Rates May Enhance Loot Progression and Balance
Lower drop rates for legendary items inBorderlands 4may also enhance loot progression and balance. If legendary items are too common, as they were inBorderlands 3, then items of every other rarity are quickly trivialized, making each of them throw-away items as soon as they are acquired. With a more balanced drop rate for legendary items, players are encouraged to make use of items of any rarity across the board, which, in turn, adds a layer ofstrategy to the gameas well. This approach ensures lower-tier weapons and items maintain their relevance much longer, especially inBorderlands 4’s early and mid-game stages.
The Cons of Lowering Legendary Drop Rates in Borderlands 4
Lower Drop Rates May Increase the Grind Too Much
Lower drop rates for legendary items don’t come without cons, though, some of which could significantly impactBorderlands 4’s player base. Firstly, lower legendary drop rates may increase the grind too much. This is where balance is necessary, as players could spend countless hours grinding for a legendary item, only to finally obtain it but no longer have the willpower or energy to put that much effort into getting another.Borderlands 4would need to ensure that the output of legendary items adequately matches the amount of time players spend grinding for them if it hopes to keep those players around for the long haul.
Lower Drop Rates May Alienate Casual Players
Similarly, lower drop rates for legendary items may alienateBorderlands 4’s casual players. Those who don’t have as much time to spend grinding away atBorderlands 4’s bossesfor unique legendary items may end up with a feeling of FOMO, or simply that they aren’t being rewarded for their time. This is an issue that loot-driven games likeDestiny 2have experienced for some time now, andBorderlands 4can’t afford to fall into the same trap.
At the end of the day, loweringBorderlands 4’s legendary drop rate is a risk — one that could pay off in a big way if Gearbox gets the balance right. MakingBorderlands 4’s legendaries feel rare again is a smart move on paper, but it only works if the grind stays rewarding for players at every level of investment. If casual players feel shut out or hardcore players feel burned out, then even themost satisfying loot chasecan start to feel like a chore. As such, the idea isn’t just to make legendary loot exciting, but to make the chase worth every minute.
