Why Borderlands 4’s New Planet Could Be a Double-Edged Sword

It certainly feels like Borderlands 4 has been a long time coming, as six years can feel like a long period of time for those who have been anxiously waiting to see what Gearbox does next with the mainline series. Thankfully, it’s finally nearly here, with plans to launch on September 23, almost exactly six years after the release of Borderlands 3. Now, with a full trilogy behind it, Borderlands 4 has the rare opportunity to reinvent the series and see it dominate the looter-shooter genre that it once defined, and it’s starting that with a brand-new planet with seamless exploration — Kairos.

For the most part, every mainline Borderlands game has taken place on the iconic planet of Pandora — with the exception of Borderlands 3, which introduced interplanetary exploration between several planets. So far, there is no indication that Borderlands 4 will include Pandora in the mix in any way, though the planet’s moon, Elpis, is confirmed to play a role in the narrative. Instead, Borderlands 4‘s planet Kairos will serve as the primary setting, giving players fresh territory for players to explore. Unfortunately, that might not be entirely a good thing, as it could mean that players won’t be revisiting some of the series’ most iconic locations.

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Borderlands 4’s New Planet Comes With Ups and Downs

Players May Not Be Allowed to Revisit Iconic Locations in Borderlands 4

Being the fourth mainline entry, Borderlands 4 has the chance to be the new entry point for newcomers, especially given its brand-new setting. To be fair, that alone could be enough to reignite interest in the franchise and allow it to expand its demographic. However, the new setting does risk alienating players who have been with the series since its origins in 2009, as many of them might like to revisit some of their favorite locations, especially with Borderlands 4‘s visual overhaul and seemingly grittier tone.

Obviously, there’s Pandora, which has been a staple location of the Borderlands series since it began almost 16 years ago. Some veteran fans might do anything to revisit Pandora, if only for a brief period, at some point during Borderlands 4‘s story. The inability to visit Pandora would mean Sanctuary’s exclusion from the list of explorable locations, unless Borderlands 4‘s team either creates their own version of Sanctuary or calls a pre-established location by that name and treats it as such. Apart from that, some fans might be hoping to revisit Promethea or Eden-6 in Borderlands 4, both of which were introduced in Borderlands 3.

Borderlands 4’s New Planet Gives Players Fresh Territory to Discover

On the other hand, Borderlands 4‘s new planet offers players fresh territory to discover. There’s a chance that some Borderlands fans have grown tired of seeing and exploring the same locations since the series began, and Kairos offers an opportunity to break that cycle. Plus, Kairos’ seamless exploration and potentially expansive nature means it will likely have multiple biomes for players to explore, possibly makinng it an all-in-one planet to discourage environmental fatigue. All things considered, Kairos could be part of the fresh start that Borderlands 4 arguably needs to be.

At the end of the day, Borderlands 4‘s Kairos might be exactly what the series needs, and simultaneously exactly what some fans don’t want. It could very well breathe new life into the franchise, but it could also cut ties with the very legacy that made Borderlands iconic in the first place. For every player excited to chart new territory in Borderlands 4, there may be a longtime fan hoping for just one more trip back to Pandora. That’s ultimately what makes Kairos a bit of a double-edged sword, as it could either be a part of Borderlands 4‘s preparation for the future, or it could leave longtime series fans wondering what got lost along the way.

Borderlands 4

Released

September 23, 2025

ESRB

Rating Pending

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer

Cross-Platform Play

Yes – all