It looks like Borderlands 4 will pull the trigger on the franchise's Chekov's Gun

Borderlands 4 made a huge splash at the Game Awards 2024 with its revealing new trailer. The first trailer for the next installment in the premium looter shooter series hits many different notes: glimpses of the new vault hunters Borderlands 4updates to popular characters and of course lots of new weapons. But perhaps more interesting than anything else was the first look at some of the fourth game's story beats, including the first look at another villain attempting to take over Pandora.

The story in Borderlands 3 was a weakness of the title, as many fans cited the Calypso Twins' inferiority compared to their handsome predecessor as the reason why the trio did not reach the same heights as the previous installments. One key moment in the trailer might hint at that Borderlands 4The story intends to take the series to the next level by finally addressing one of the most mysterious dangling plot threads from one of the most underrated entries in the series.

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One Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Feature should live on in new forms in BL4

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel had a lot of unique ideas built into it, and one of them deserves to be brought back in Borderlands 4.

Borderlands 4 Looks Like It's Finally Bringing Watcher's 'Vault Hunter War'

Plot Ten years in the making

Although it is sometimes overlooked, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel could plot for Borderlands 4 a full decade ago, in 2014. The game ends with the Watcher, a mysterious alien entity who makes himself known in the Sanctuary before ominously warning the characters of an impending war that will claim all the Vault Hunters they can get. The subsequent Holodome DLC revealed that Axton and Gaige were off-world and wanted to recruit Aurelia, but after that the “war” became something of an afterthought.

Borderlands 3 largely ignores this plot thread in favor of focusing on the Calypsos and the children of the Vault Cult, but the first look at Borderlands 4 may indicate that Gearbox is dusting off the Guardian's long-predicted war. Borderlands 4The reveal trailer shows hordes and hordes of enemies charging headlong into battle with four new Vault Hunters standing in their way.

That's a lot more “war” imagery than the series has likely delved into before, and a possible sign from Gearbox that they're finally making good on the promise Pre-Sequel. New villain from Borderlands 4Timekeeper, is now something of a mystery. Their exact motivations are unknown, but whatever they are, they seem willing to bring an army to help them achieve their own goals.

As exciting as the Vault Hunter war is, it's good that the series is moving on to new stories

The Watcher was a mysterious player Pre-Sequelit only actually appears on screen twice during the game's run. Almost nothing is known about him, other than the fact that he is definitely of Eridian origin. This war, and perhaps even the Timekeeper, can also trace their origins back to Border the most mysterious faction of the series. This would certainly explain why the Warden was informed of the imminent danger so soon. The war could well be the result of a resurgence of the Eridian presence in the galaxy, as most longtime fans of the series will agree that they're not entirely convinced that every Eridian is extinct.

Regardless of the exact details of the conflict Borderlands 4there's a clear chance that this applies to the Vault Hunter War players have been waiting for since 2014. If so, it's good that Gearbox is finally delivering it, as it was by far the biggest persistent Border a plot thread left unaddressed and unresolved. Closing the book on Watcher's War would allow the series to continue moving forward with new ideas and concepts and give some long overdue resolution to the most underrated game in the series.