Borderlands 4 may be quite well received at launch, but has struggled to keep players hooked since its release. Its open world makes for an engaging first playthrough, but going through all the side activities becomes a bit of a chore on repeat. Divisive balance changes, disappointing events like Horrors of Kairos, and a rather flat post-game experience all contributed to the game's downfall. Fortunately, the first quarter of 2026 (January-March) brings the first Borderlands 4 expansion and more importantly the new Vault Hunter C4SH which will hopefully win back some lapsed fans. And in addition to this main content, one fun side activity could make all the difference.
Currently, information about C4SH is somewhat limited, but what is there is interesting. New Borderlands 4 Vault Hunter is a mysterious robot like FL4K with a cowboy aesthetic. His set is designed to be intentionally unpredictable, and players rely on dice rolls to increase the power of action skills. FL4K sounds like another attempt at a Claptrap-like character, making him a second luck-based character, but unlike Claptrap, he'll seemingly have a more positive side if luck is on the players' side. But perhaps the most promising thing about this new character is that before he became a rebel on Kairos, C4SH was a casino dealer. This opens the door for Gearbox to reintroduce a simple mechanic that fans have been sorely missing: slot machines.
What's so great about Borderlands slots?
Like many other great mechanics in Border series, slot machines debuted in mil Borderlands 2. They came back in both Pre-Sequel and Borderlands 3functioning similarly in all three games. For a simple bid of money, players could spin the machines and if they got three matching symbols, they would have a chance at any of the following items:
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A lot of money
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Eridium
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Character Appearances
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Weapons of all rarity levels
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A grenade that instantly shoots players down if they stand too close
Obviously, getting a legendary weapon from a machine was incredibly rare. According to Border wiki, the chance of such a drop was 0.02%, making it a big problem if someone ever managed to pull BorderThe best weapons from the machine gun. The chase was exciting though, and getting a skin from the machines for your Vault Hunter was just as satisfying. While it may not seem like a must-have feature, for many they are a defining feature Border' mushrooms area. It was a real disappointment when I arrived at Moxxi's bar on Kairos to find that only the tip jar had returned. While this container is also iconic, two unique activities at Moxxi locations ensure that it is always worth a visit. It doesn't take long to get her two exclusive weapons through the spiked container, so having something else to chase would be welcome.
WITH Borderlands 4With co-op and loot-heavy gameplay, it's great to have something to do when a player in a party needs to sort through loot or take a quick break. Slots have always been an ideal time killer as players can spin the machine multiple times while waiting for their buddy to get ready for the next fight. Yes, Borderlands 4With an open world focus, players aren't trapped in a hub like Sanctuary and can shoot and loot while their criminals are away, but that doesn't mean slot machines shouldn't be a part of the game anymore. They are a clear case of fun RNG and a nice change from the usual game loop.
The arrival of C4SH is the perfect class for Borderlands 4 to introduce slot machines
It's hard to think of a more perfect storm for this particular one Border basic to make a comeback as a character with a past involving casinos is set to come into play very soon. Maybe Gearbox just throws some slot machines into Moxxi's Kairos bar (and other hub areas) for a themed update that suits C4SH. Alternatively, C4SH may have a room key in each area that allows him to unlock access to the slot machines, or perhaps he can canonically copy the slot machines given his past. Regardless of how they are introduced, it would be great to see them come into the game alongside C4SH, as gambling is part of not only the new Vault Hunter's identity, but Border'also identity.
- Released
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September 12, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Crude Language, In-Game Purchases, User Interaction
