Borderlands 4’s Major Shift: A Double-Edged Sword

Sure, here it is:

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So, it’s been what, like a few years since Borderlands 3 came out? And now we’ve got Borderlands 4. This one isn’t just some minor tweak. Oh no, it’s like, totally different. Remember how in Borderlands 2 they completely changed up the story and the places you could go? And then Borderlands 3 got us all those deep skill trees and, I dunno, smoother shooting stuff? Well, now they’re dragging us back to one planet—Kairos—and everyone’s got opinions.

Anyway—where was I? Oh right, Unreal Engine 5. It’s making all this possible, these huge areas to mess around in. But here’s the kicker—switching to this engine, it might not be all sunshine and unicorns. Some folks are a bit worried. Like, did you play The Lords of the Fallen or Immortals of Aveum? Even Fortnite had its hiccups with this engine. Glitch city, man.

Now, about those graphics—super fancy. Maybe a bit too fancy? You ever see something so perfect it’s like, unsettling? That’s the vibe here. I got to see some early stuff, and sure, it looks great, but does it feel Borderlands-y enough? Dunno. The game’s got this clean look, and it’s missing that gritty, dusty feel we all loved. It’s almost like they put too many filters on the photos, and now they’re washed out.

The heads-up display (or HUD, right?) is another thing. It’s all clean and sci-fi now, which just feels… different. Like, you’re out there shooting psychos one moment, and now it’s like you’re on some futuristic space mission. Mixed feelings all around, but maybe—just maybe—it’s fine? Kairos isn’t Pandora, after all, it’s got this whole dictatorship vibe going. Shiny, but kind of oppressively so, you know?

Remember how Borderlands 3 looked compared to 2? It was still very “Borderland-ish,” if that makes sense. But 4? It’s smooth, sure. Almost too smooth, like it’s lost that loud attitude. Will it grow on us? I mean, it could. But for now, it feels like Unreal Engine 5 might have done a number on the thing we loved most. Wait—did I mention the character outlines? All toned down, like they’re trying to blend in or something.

Maybe I’m just not used to it. These things take time, right? Let’s see how it rolls out. It’s not out yet, so who knows what could change. Just gotta wait and see.