Summary
Borderlands 4is rapidly approaching its September 23 launch. After a waiting period lasting nearly five years since the latest numbered entry,Borderlands 4picked up steam in late 2024 and earlier this year in February when developer Gearbox announced and showed off more about the upcoming fourth installment. Among some of the changes fans can expect are a switch from the series' “toilet” humor to a more serious tone, brought by a menacing new villain that the studio says will rival the legendary Handsome Jack.
Another item that has been teased in comments from Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford is thatBorderlands 4might be introducing base building. The franchise has previously dabbled with this in minor ways, but now players could see a fully-fledged system dedicated to it. And while this would be a welcome inclusion,Borderlands' spin-off,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, is in many ways arguably more suited to the mechanic.
Borderlands 4will be getting a dedicated State of Playsometime this Spring, though no date has been given at the time of writing.
Borderland 4’s Possible Base Building Might Actually Be a Better Fit for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Base or Settlement Construction in Borderlands 4 Would Be a Big Step-Up
Borderlandshas always been about looting and shooting first and foremost, but notably inBL3,fans could also deck out the Sanctuary base with some limited decorations for their own small room in the hideaway. There are some other franchises that have previously experimented and made good use of this as well. For example,Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas some of the most expansive base buildingfor the IP, a far cry from its roots as a stealth-action adventure series.
With so much character and flavor to the setting and its distinctive cel-shaded design, there is a lot more thatBorderlandscan bring to the table in this regard. Along with the action,Borderlands 4’s focus on compelling story arcsand continued world building could tie into settlement construction as a great evolution for it, adding an entirely new layer to the next title’s experience. Yet, such a feature would arguably be better served inTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsgiven its own framework and aesthetics.
Customized Base Building Seems to Feel More at Home in Tina Tiny’s Wonderlands
Since fans are essentially meta-roleplaying inTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, playing a campaign of the in-universe tabletop RPG, Bunkers and Badasses GM’ed by Tina, the nature of the fantasy world and narrative are subject to both her and the player’s whims. This was already used to great effect, as Tina describes changes and the visuals react accordingly. Giving players the added ability to build bases would fitTTW’s morecozy-styled vibesand designs incredibly well.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsalso had a deep character creatorcompared toBorderlands, and this range of freedom could easily transfer to a base of operations, or perhaps multiple ones, that players can similarly tailor to their heart’s content. There is a wealth of fun potential forTTWto incorporate buildable homesteads within its well-realized whimsical fantasy setting, and Gearbox could offer an extensive array of options for doing so, all while staying true to its themes and framework.
One possible hurdle to this, however, arerumors claimingTiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2may have been canceled, although Gearbox has not officially commented on its status. Even if one is no longer planned, though, the studio could still patch base building mechanics into the first game, especially if they prove popular inBorderlands 4. This could theoretically, at least in part, pave the way for aTTWsequel to be revived and introduce a refined system in another entry that takes full advantage of its potential.
