Borderlands 4 boasts a humorous contrast to Borderlands 3's billion guns, with Gearbox revealing a staggering 30 billion guns this time around, which the developers meticulously recorded with a wall of weapons reminiscent of the Matrix.
In the world of Borderlands, the excitement of shooting down hordes of enemies has always been coupled with the satisfaction of progression. This design philosophy, which originated in the original Borderlands, was significantly influenced by the fast-paced action of Wolfenstein 3D and the rewarding aspects of Diablo.
Randy Pitchford, the boss of Gearbox Software, has revealed that the original Borderlands was crafted to blend the moment-to-moment fun of a shooter game with the joy of progression, drawing inspiration from both Wolfenstein 3D and Diablo.
Fast forward to Borderlands 4, and the thrill of gunplay has been taken to new heights. The game boasts an astonishing 30 billion unique guns, a significant increase from its predecessors. This colossal number is made possible through an advanced procedural generation system that combines numerous parts, attachments, elemental effects, and manufacturers.
Compared to Borderlands 3, which had over 1 billion guns, Borderlands 4 increases the variety over 30 times. The key difference in weapon customization for Borderlands 4 is the introduction of a Licensed parts system allowing cross-pollination of parts from different manufacturers. This means players can, for example, attach a Daedalus underbarrel on a Maliwan shotgun, creating unique functional and visual combinations not possible before.
The customization includes swapping out barrels, attachments, sights, magazines, and fire modes. The art team has created a detailed “gun map” to ensure that parts from different manufacturers work seamlessly, respecting animation, slide action, and aesthetic style, which also helps convey how a weapon behaves in combat.
This results in a vastly deeper, more flexible, and visually coherent weapon customization experience in Borderlands 4 compared to its predecessors.
| Aspect | Borderlands 3 | Borderlands 4 | |----------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Approximate Unique Guns | Over 1 billion | 30 billion | | Customization Scope | Mainly skins and trinkets | Full parts swapping (barrels, sights, magazines, etc.) including cross-manufacturer combinations | | Weapon Parts Mixing | No cross-manufacturer part usage | Licensed parts system enabling cross-pollination | | Visual & Functional Design | Manufacturer-based look but less flexible | Detailed "gun map" ensures functional and visual fit of mixed parts |
The developers of Borderlands have always been committed to providing players with an unparalleled gun customization experience. With Borderlands 4, they have succeeded in taking this commitment to new heights, offering players a vast array of unique, customizable weapons that will keep them engaged for countless hours.
References: [1] Gamespot [2] IGN [3] Polygon [4] Kotaku
- The developers of Borderlands, inspired by fast-paced action games like Wolfenstein 3D and Diablo, have crafted Borderlands 4 to offer players an unprecedented gun customization experience.
- In Borderlands 4, the staggering number of 30 billion unique guns ensures a wealth of options for players, thanks to a sophisticated procedural generation system.
- Unlike Borderlands 3, which primarily allowed skin and trinket changes, Borderlands 4 introduces a Licensed parts system, enabling cross-manufacturer combinations for barrels, sights, magazines, and more.
- The art team in Borderlands 4 has meticulously created a "gun map" to ensure seamless functionality, visual coherence, and aesthetic style across various weapon customization options, enhancing the gaming experience with a deeper and more flexible weapon customization system.
