Summary
Borderlands 4is set to launch this Fall, on September 23. Following the previous mainline entry in 2019, the upcoming installment looks to be taking a turn from some of its and the franchise’s overall past sensibilities in terms of narrative and tone. Based on what members of developer Gearbox have stated,Borderlands 4will be moving away from much of the lower-brow and meme-based content that it usually contains in favor of a more modern and mature angle.
In previous comments,Borderlands 4’s narrative director, Sam Winkler, noted it will not make use of “toilet humor"in the way prior titles have, particularly the third.Borderlands 2is often considered the best in the series,and its mix of comedy with strong story and character development resulted in a well-told tale that still contains a good amount of levity to break up its more somber moments. Back in December 2024, writer Miles Luna announced that he had been tapped to help penBorderlands 4. And given his catalog of work, this is an encouraging sign thatBL4is set to strike the right balance in the upcoming adventure.
Miles Luna Writing For Borderlands 4 Could Be the Secret Ingredient that Elevates It
Miles Luna’s Record Bodes Well For His Contribution to Borderlands 4
For those unfamiliar, Miles Luna was the Head Writer of Animation at Rooster Teeth Productions, the studio responsible for theclassicHalomachinima series,Red vs. Blue. While it started as something of a parody, the show soon developed a deep lore and explored the emotions and psyches of its collection of compelling characters. Luna wrote seasons 11-13 ofRed vs. Blue, which were all well-received and kept up the series' established brand of humor along with engaging and meaningful narratives.
In addition to his work onRed vs. Blue, Luna co-wrote for and directed other critically and commercially successful shows, includingChibi,Camp Camp, andRWBY; with the last notably being the firstwestern animethat was dubbed and broadcast on TV in Japan. Luna also provides the voice for a number of characters in each series, like Felix inRed vs. Blue.
In 2020, he departed Rooster Teeth to pursue other opportunities, and has since worked on games in both the AAA and indie sectors, most recentlyKill It with Fire 2. Luna has said that he’s a longtime fan of theBorderlandsseries as well. His experience with the above and the enthusiasm he brings to the project are great indications thatBorderlands 4will be able to deliver a strong narrative that incorporates recognizable elements of the series while moving it forward in a new direction.
Miles Luna Could Help Borderlands 4’s Story Strike a Satisfying Balance Between Serious and Silly
Borderlands 4looks to have a lot on its plate in terms of plot threads. It will need to bridge the gap between the events ofBorderlands 3, especially regarding the fate of Lilith, while introducing its latest villain, The Timekeeper, the new planet of Kairos, and their role in the next adventure. With the promise thatBorderlands 4will be going into darker and more mature tones, Miles Luna seems a great fit to realize this vision.
Gearbox acknowledging that some ofBorderlands' previous comedic styles didn’t always landor hold up is a welcome sign. By bringing Miles Luna on board for the upcoming entry, combined with Sam Winkler’s statements, it seems like the studio has built a talented team with the skills to ensure thatBorderlands 4is on track to provide an emotionally satisfying story that also has plenty of moments of great humor.
