TheBorderlandsfranchise has put in a lot of work to reach a wide audience over the years. From its sharp wit to its energetic gameplay, developer Gearbox Software has made the series accessible for those getting into the looter shooter genre. The series has also benefited from keeping a finger on the pulse of pop culture over the years, withBorderlands 3’s influencer antagonistsbeing one of the most prominent recent examples. Now that many fans are looking toward a possibleBorderlands 4, there are many things the franchise can do to connect with pop culture in an entertaining and seamless way once again.
One of gaming’s most popular ways of connecting with pop culture is through crossovers. Some crossovers can be subtle, and some can be a fixture of a game’s monetization like inFortnite, but either way they serve as a fun way to connect gaming with other forms of entertainment.Borderlandsis no stranger to the occasional crossover, withBorderlands 2containing more than a few examples. Since then, however, the series hasn’t touched on crossovers very much, givingBorderlands 4an opportunity to make up for lost time.
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Borderlands' Crossover History Explained
Before crossovers were a way for major corporations to get their IP more visibility, they were often fun Easter eggs that were unobtrusive to a game’s overall experience.Borderlands 2implemented crossovers in a way that was as playful as it was fun to discover, with one in particular showing great creativity. Back whenBorderlands 2released in 2012,Minecraftwas still a hot new thing in the industry, so Gearbox included an Easter egg dedicated to the hit survival game. It turned out to be a hot topic in the gaming community at the time, with many players searching frantically for it.
Hidden in the Caustic Caverns, players can find train tracks that lead to a distinctly, smooth, blocky wall. If players repeatedly melee this wall, blocks will break just like they do inMinecraftto reveal a secret cave. Once inside the cave, players can find a couple of creepers that look like they’ve been ripped right fromMinecraft, as well as gold ore that gives money when broken, and a special purple ore with Eridium inside. When players defeat the creepers, they’re rewarded with a skin and headpiece that makes each ofBorderlands 2’s Vault Hunterslook like Steve fromMinecraft.
How Borderlands 4 Can Bring Back Crossovers
Borderlands 2’sMinecraftcrossover was an inventive integration of a popular gaming property, but the series hasn’t seemed too interested in doing a crossover to the same extent since then. If Gearbox is feeling more ambitious withBorderlands 4, there are a plethora of properties it could cross over with. One of the most obvious choices would be a crossover withFortnite, as it’s an industry leader much likeFortnite.Borderlands 4could haveFortnite’s Battle Bushidden away on a planet like Pandora for example, with various Easter eggs that reference the popular battle royale game.
WithBorderlands 3growing in age, andTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsacting as a serviceable spin-off, manyBorderlandsfans are eagerly looking forward to a potentialBorderlands 4. There are still a fewloose ends inBorderlands’storythat need tying up, and many hope that the franchise’s fourth entry might finally put some punctuation on certain storylines. Whatever the case,Borderlands 4will more than likely continue the series' humorous streak, and hopefully part of that humor will include nods to other major gaming properties through a fun crossover or two.
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