It’s clear to the naked eye thatBorderlands 3DLC is working off at least one pattern for development, namely that a Vault Hunter is to return as a NPC in each. Timothy appeared in the first one, while Gaige returned in the second, so it’ll be interesting to see whichBorderlands 3characters come back in DLC. That said, there appears to be at least one more pattern at play.
If this is indeed the case, and it certainly seems to be the first 3, then this pattern seems to suggest thatBorderlands 3story DLC content will be based on movie genres. For DLC 3 and 4, that may be helpful in a number of ways.
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Looking at the first two DLCs makes this pattern near crystal clear. The first one has been compared several times to heist films likeOcean’s Eleven, and there’s no stretch of the imagination that it’s based on Heist films. It follows the genre to a T, simply stopping to add its ownBorderlands 3flair to it. TheGuns, Love, and Tentacles DLChas clear Lovecraftian horror vibes, and while that is a more expanded genre, a Lovecraftian horror film genre has had its time since the 1950s as well. Several films were based directly on Lovecraft’s short stories, whereas others built around a Cthulu-like mythos as well. It’s DLC 3 and DLC 4 that’ll be interesting to see make specific takes on movie genres.
Borderlands 3 DLC 3: A Western
The above image is the only teaser currently revealed for the nextBorderlands 3DLC, but what it makes seemingly clear is that it would be base on a western film. While the dinosaurs are likelyBL3style touches, the desperadoes seated on them appear to be taken straight from it. Common themes of a Western film include treasure/gold hunting, the conflict between factions of outlaws, and a general resistance to change. As such, these threads could easily be weaved into a tale inBorderlands 3, perhaps of older Pandoran inhabitants who are resistant to the game’s space-faring ways.
It would be interesting if this meant Salvador would be returning, as he is the only Vault Hunter born on Pandora, and it would make the most sense to put his character into a Western DLC. Of course,Revenge of the Cartelscould be setting up factions and outlaws for the game, with treasure hunting being nothing new toBorderlands 3.
Borderlands 3 DLC 4: A Psychological Thriller
Right now, there’s even less to go on forBorderlands 3DLC 4, but many believe that’ll it’ll feature the return of Krieg. This may have even been teased byRandy Pitchfordhimself at PA East 2020, as he stated that fans may get to see “inside the head of the wildest psycho we know.” This would lend credibility to this game being a psychological thriller, not necessarily unlike the Claptastic Voyage DLC, but perhaps an even more wild ride. After all, Krieg is mentally unstable with one voice being trapped inside his head.
Notably, like theTiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, the final DLC may reflect on events of the maingame somehow. The former is really Tina’s way of process her grief over Roland’s death, and it would be fitting for this DLC to dive into his mind, try to fix his broken psyche, and help him process the loss of Maya. Of course, this all remains to be seen, but a Heist, Lovecraftian, Western, and Psychological thriller DLC sounds right upBorderlands 3’s alley.
Borderlands 3is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
