Summary
With more spin-offs likeTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsas well as true sequels to theBorderlandsfranchise likely to arrive over the several few years, Gearbox will likely have its hands full for the forseeable future. However, though it would mean even more work for the company, an MMO could bring some truly fresh opportunities to theBorderlandsfranchise, while also providing some healthy competition for another popular MMO: Destiny 2.
Given how similar the recentBorderlandsgames already are to Bungie’s MMO looter-shooterDestiny 2, this transition seems like a natural progression that’s just waiting to happen. Not to mention, it could be a good segue into future games having dedicated PvP modes, like aBorderlandsBattle Royale.
Future Borderlands Games Should Give PvP a Chance
Though moreTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsgames seem likely,rumors that Embracer group is considering selling Gearboxmeans the fate of moreBorderlandsspin-offs beyond that is uncertain. However, a surprise transition into the MMO genre could be the saving grace for the franchise, especially when considering that it wouldn’t need to be too drastic of a change from whatBorderlandsgames currently offer.
While there are plenty of existing similarities, the key reason whyBorderlandsisn’t considered an MMO is that players can fully experience the game independently or in a small party, instead of sharing a server or a related instance with many other online players.
As it currently stands,Borderlands’ multiplayer experience could arguably use more depth, which is what makes a shift to being a proper MMO seem like a natural progression for the franchise. One area that futureBorderlandsgames should consider experimenting with is dedicated PvP modes.
There are existing multiplayer elements toBorderlands, including duels and co-op matchmaking, but there’s no true PvP or large-scale multiplayer.Borderlands3already laid the groundwork for aBorderlandsBattle Royale via Arms Race, so not realizing the potential of proper multiplayer content within the series is just money left on the table. Transitioning to an MMO could be a pathway toward alive-serviceBorderlandsgame, which is already another realistic possibility for the future of the franchise.
A Borderlands MMO Could Be a “Destiny 2 Killer”
Whether or not aBorderlandsMMO could usurpDestiny 2is hard to say, but it’s safe to assume that this kind of game could giveDestiny 2some healthy competition. In the name of good sportsmanship, this kind of transition for theBorderlandsfranchise could simultaneously be beneficial forDestiny 2as well as any other MMO looter-shooters, as competition would theoretically motivate all games to become better.
While it might be overdramatic to claim that aBorderlandsMMO could be a “Destiny 2killer,” the similarities between these games would arguably make them natural rivals. Consequently,Borderlands’ signature gunplay and ability-based combat could truly shine in a large-scale multiplayer environment, which is one of the main appeals ofDestiny 2. For now, one of the main differences between these two franchises isDestiny 2’s larger-scale multiplayer, so if theBorderlandsfranchise were to expand its online offerings, it would be a close fight between these two franchises.
Destiny 2 Is on the Decline
Aside from instigating an ongoing competition, the timing of aBorderlandsMMO could also pose a significant challenge forDestiny 2. With the unfortunate news of layoffs within the studio and thedelay of The Final Shape expansion, player engagement inDestiny 2is seemingly waning. Specifically, the peak player count inDestiny 2on Steam in the last 30 days isn’t too far from the lowest it’s ever been.
With the debut of theBorderlandsmovie andthe release ofBorderlands4on the horizon, theBorderlandsfranchise is still gaining plenty of momentum. With this in mind, theBorderlandsfranchise could very well stealDestiny 2’s thunder ifDestiny 2’s next expansion doesn’t deliver, especially if an upcomingBorderlandsgame in the near future were to transition into being a true MMO with massive areas to explore, hubs full of other players, and more multiplayer content.
