We’ve known since earlier this year that Valve was quietly working on a new game, a sort of cross between hero shooters and MOBAs called Deadlock. But we never got an official announcement. Now, it looks like thousands of people are already playing the game in some sort of early play test, with the game reaching over 18,000 concurrent players earlier today.
Per SteamDB, Deadlock playercount started slowly climbing earlier this month, reaching a peak of 18,254 earlier today and expected to climb further. IGN understands that the game’s current early access period is operating under an invite system, where certain Steam users are receiving invites and can then suggest other individuals to also receive invites.
Since testers started sharing Deadlock screenshots all over the place, here’s ones I can verify, featuring one of the heroes called Grey Talon. pic.twitter.com/KdZSRxObSz
Sreenshots and video footage of the game available to the general public remain minimal, given that players are required to sign a strict NDA before being permitted to play. However, players are free to discuss their experiences with the game, with a “DeadlockTheGame” subreddit already accruing members and discussion of early impressions.
What we know so far is that Deadlock seems to be a mishmash of hero shooter ala Overwatch and MOBA with lane-based gameplay like DOTA 2 and tower defense elements. It takes place in a fantasy/steampunk setting. While we haven’t gotten good looks at its hero cast just yet for the reasons outlined above, everyone currently playing seems to really love one character in particular:
Me: I don’t’ get attached to things that easily! Also me after 0.2 seconds of playing Deadlock: pic.twitter.com/1EUfO0AK4d
With the growing playerbase and invites seemingly available to anyone willing to ask, it seems likely that an actual for-real official announcement of Deadlock may be imminent. Valve’s been on a bit of a spree with stealth releases lately, having quietly dropped Counter-Strike 2 last year and Half-Life: Alyx being announced just a few short months before its eventual release.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Roughly two weeks after the release of Fallout: London, the big Fallout 4 mod that takes the post-apocalyptic RPG overseas, digital distribution store GOG.com revealed that the expansion-sized mod has become the “fastest redeemed game of all time” on its platform.
In a press release published on Friday, GOG revealed that in the first 24 hours, Fallout: London was redeemed “more than 500,000 times,” taking the crown as the fastest downloaded game of all time for its storefront alone.
“The initial release of Fallout: London quickly turned out to be an incredible success – and a prime example of how work of passion and creativity can bring in a plethora of new, exciting ways to enjoy a game,” GOG wrote in a press release.
That success has been so great, in fact, that the mod’s developers announced in an interview with BBC that they’re planning to formally start their own game development studio. Though Fallout: London is a free mod, as Team Folon’s Dean Carter said in the interview, “free doesn’t pay the bills.” The creators have been accepting donations, and seem to be preparing to use that funding to make Team Folon into a full-fledged studio.
“What we’ve done with that is we’re channelling that into team Folon, which is what we’re going to be moving into, and then we should hopefully launch our own indie games company,” he said.
Fallout: London was initially announced in June 2021 as a DLC-sized mod for the 2015 action RPG Fallout 4. Set between the events of Fallout 1 and Fallout 2, the mod has players venturing through a radiated, post-apocalyptic London.
Before the mod’s release, the Fallout: London development team originally had two other release windows for the project: the first was in Q3 2023 but was delayed to avoid competing with Bethesda’s space RPG Starfield. The second delay came in 2024 as the development team feared that the next-gen update for Fallout 4 would make the mod unplayable.
Of course, while Fallout: London has been a major success, GOG did, of course, mention the growing pains that came with the mod. Specifically, it noted that most of the issues were due to how complex it was for individuals to install the mod.
Additional issues/criticisms of Fallout: London include the mod being incompatible with the Epic Games Store version of Fallout 4, which GOG explained ahead of its release was due to EGS’s lack of support for update rollbacks. If you own Fallout 4 on Steam and are looking to play Fallout: London, IGN has a guide that can help you properly install the mod.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Developer Farm 51 has announced Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone, the sequel to the 2021 first-person sci-fi survival horror shooter. The new game aims to blend open-world combat, crafting, team and base management, and nonlinear storytelling into a compelling and realistic post-apocalyptic action-RPG. It’s due out on PC and consoles in 2025.
In Chernobylite 2, you play as a planewalker, someone who travels between parallel worlds in search of the titular Chernobylite, a precious and powerful material. In that quest, you’ll battle throes of terrifying creatures and do your best to unite and lead the remaining human survivors. Take a look at the announcement trailer above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.
The sequel also promises to expand on everything players liked in the first game, such as the story, side characters, relationship aspects, combat, weapons and gadgets, exploration, and more – along with adding an open world. It also includes online co-op for the campaign.
We’ll have more on Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone as development progresses. Wishlist it on Steam if you’re interested.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
Woot! (which is owned by Amazon) is offering the best deal on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Right now you can get a 3 month code for only $36.49. Microsoft recently raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $19.99 per month, so now you’re saving 40% off a 3 month membership. Note that you can purchase multiple codes and apply them to your account, up to a maximum of 36 months. This deal was supposed to expire last week, however Woot! has extended the deadline to August 17.
Note: There is a coupon code “VIDEOGAMES” that takes $3 off one order. If you purchase multiple gift cards, this code will only work on a single gift card.
3 Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $33.49
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to a library of hundreds of Xbox games, including day one releases. You can play them for the entirety of your membership without any restrictions. You do lose access to them once your membership is over, but if you ever decide to renew, all your past achievements and progress will be saved. You’ll also have access to Xbox Game Pass for PC. Although there aren’t nearly as many games as there are on Xbox, there are still plenty of AAA titles to keep you sated. Other perks include exclusive membership discounts, the ability to play your games across multiple devices with cloud gaming, free access to EA Play membership, as well as bonus in-game content and rewards. It is an exceptionally good – almost essential – membership for Xbox gamers. New release games are not cheap, and being able to play them without buying them will save you a lot of money and easily recoup the cost of the membership.
The cyberpunk subgenre has been a visually and conceptually compelling backdrop for RPGs, first-person shooters, and narrative-driven mysteries. But the upcoming Kiborg from Sobaka Studios looks to turn the high-tech, low-lives conceit into a vehicle for a high-octane action brawler—with a roguelite twist. Leaning into the intense body modification and grotesque horrors that advanced technology can bring, Kiborg focuses on fast-paced, crunchy combat that’s all powered by some bizarre yet intriguing upgrades that can light up the battle zone.
Just ahead of the release of the upcoming playable prologue that sets the stage for the main game, I forged through a gauntlet of mutants, cyborgs, and giant robots with an assortment of deadly upgrades to tear through the competition in this roguelite beat-em-up spin on cyberpunk fiction.
Kiborg sees you take on the role of Morgan, a resistance fighter who outfits himself and his clones with tech upgrades to even the odds in his fight against rival factions on a wartorn prison planet. The protagonist will have to prepare himself for his descent into the carnage by training in the Arena, a VR combat simulator that supplies an endless array of foes and deadly traps in a battle zone that feels inspired by the spectacle of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
The Arena does a great job of establishing the mood of this hyper-violent grim world.
Kiborg: Arena and its ladder-style progression are a prologue to the main game, which features a more robust roguelite campaign across different locales. The Arena not only does a great job of establishing the mood of this hyper-violent grim world, but also chucked me into the deep end to get me accustomed to the intriguing blend of beat-em-up action and randomized roguelite-style upgrades. Along with an extended tutorial, which helped me get into the flow and learn the basics of its brawler-style combat, you also have an AI companion who will offer Morgan tips on how best to move up the ladder of the Arena.
The combat arena focuses on the familiar wave-based encounters, with each proceeding wave adding new enemies and traps and even arranging the layout of the zone itself. The core combat of Kiborg focuses primarily on Morgan’s moveset of punches, kicks, pulverizing strikes, and parrying. Morgan also wields an upgradable firearm that’s exceptionally vital against enemies too far out of the way. You can also earn permanent boosts for Morgan’s core skills and attributes in the upgrade menu outside of the Arena, which adds buffs and extends his health.
Like any brawler, mastering Kiborg’s combat is all about having a strong offensive strategy while keeping you ready to play defense. Kiborg is packed with grit and a lot of style, making the act of tearing through foes very satisfying when you get into a rhythm. However, combat can be quite unforgiving if you don’t find that flow. This is especially evident when facing a mob of enemies, each requiring specific strategies. Added to this is the game’s somewhat unpolished attack timing and visual, which knocked me out of step in some encounters.
However, what makes Kiborg and its approach to a cyberpunk brawler truly come together is the satisfying array of cyborg upgrades that modify Morgan’s body parts with specialized attributes. The tech upgrades gained from elite foes after pulling off a finishing move similar to Raiden from Metal Gear Rising Revengeance add a whole new layer to the combat. In roguelite fashion, you’ll need to decide which upgrade from the selection that will help you go all the way.
Some of my favorite moments came from diving into a crowd of enemies and unleashing a flurry of strikes that were amplified by chained lightning, homing razor blades, and even cyborg legs that left a streak of flames on the ground.
Some of my favorite moments came from diving into a crowd of enemies and unleashing a flurry of strikes that were amplified by chained lightning, homing razor blades, and even cyborg legs that left a streak of flames on the ground. One of the great thrills of a roguelite is seeing your modest hero evolve into a death-dealing warrior, and Kiborg’s building transformation into a super soldier with every round was so exciting to see unfold.
Kiborg and its Arena prologue show a promising, modest take on a cyberpunk action beat-em-up, even if it’s rough around the edges as of this preview. Still, I had a ton of fun with being able to rip and tear through enemies with some pulverizing cybernetic upgrades, and each attempt felt so different from the last. With the full game set for later release, Kiborg: Arena is just the teaser that’ll give players a solid sampling of this sleek blend of beat-em-up action and the cyberpunk mystique.
Geralt of Rivia voice actor Doug Cockle has revealed the White Wolf will star in the next mainline Witcher game, codenamed Polaris, but not as the main character.
Developer CD Projekt Red has long made clear that Geralt’s saga has come to an end, meaning a new protagonist was fully expected for Polaris, but this is the first confirmation he’ll be in the next game at all — and fuels some rampant fan theories.
Cockle didn’t share any specific details about Geralt’s role in Polaris in an interview with Fall Damage but did confirm his involvement. “I can’t say anything about [Polaris],” he said. “What we know is that Geralt will be part of the game, we just don’t know how much, and the game won’t focus on Geralt.
“It’s not about him this time. We don’t know who it’s about. I’m excited to find out. I want to know. I have not seen any script yet. I mean, I couldn’t tell you if I did. This is the thing, so I could be lying through my teeth. But I’m not. Or am I?”
Spoiler Warning: The following paragraphs feature spoilers for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Only a single teaser image has otherwise been revealed for Polaris, but it was enough to fan the fire of fan theories which believed Ciri would be the next mainline Witcher game’s protagonist. What’s considered the “true” ending of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, thanks to its story being continued in comics considered canon to CD Projekt Red’s universe, sees her become a witcher herself.
The teaser image also showed a medallion of a lynx, and while this is a brand new witcher school not mentioned previously in the books, games, comics, or wherever else, Ciri wore a School of the Cat medallion in the books and its philosophy matches her nimble fighting style.
Geralt being featured in Polaris as a side character perhaps lends itself to this theory too, because just as the final quest of The Witcher 3 sees him give Ciri her sword, it would make sense for her to have a mentor character in some areas of the new game. “Maybe Geralt is the new Vesemir,” said marktheshark124 on Reddit.
At the very least, the confirmation Geralt is in the game somewhat debunks fan theories for a prequel to the original Witcher saga, taking place decades, if not centuries, earlier when the Witcher schools were at the height of prominence. They, and witchers themselves, are dwindling during the events of the original saga.
PUBG publisher Krafton has acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush IP from Xbox, meaning the studio will no longer be shut down.
Krafton shared the news in a press release alongside confirming that, “as part of this strategic agreement, KRAFTON intends to collaborate with Xbox and ZeniMax to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity at Tango Gameworks, allowing the talented team to continue developing the Hi-Fi RUSH IP and explore future projects.”
“KRAFTON intends to support the Tango Gameworks team to continue its commitment to innovation and delivering fresh and exciting experiences for fans,” the press release continues. “There will be no impact on the existing game catalog of The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the original Hi-Fi RUSH game.”
Hi-Fi Rush hit two million players a month after release and recieved very positive reviews. In our Hi-Fi Rush review, we gave it a 9/10 and said it “marches to the beat of its own drum with stunning animation, loveable characters, and stylish rhythmic action that are anything but one-note.”
The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, August 11, below:
Nintendo Switch Lite with Animal Crossing: New Horizons for $159
Walmart has the Timmy & Tommy’s Aloha Edition Nintendo Switch Lite available for $159. This bundle includes a turquoise Nintendo Switch Lite and a free digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Together, that has a $260 value, which means you can save $100 by purchasing this bundle. If you have not purchased a Nintendo Switch yet, this is an excellent option.
Elgato Wave:3 Mic for $119.99
The Elgato Wave:3 Microphone is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enter the worlds of streaming, gaming, or voice recording. The custom Wave Link App allows you to control the Wave:3 and all connected audio sources on your device. While this doesn’t quite hit the all-time low of $104.99, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on the Wave:3 in a good bit.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for $39.99
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is holding strong at its all-time low price! SMT V: Vengeance is an enhanced version of the former Nintendo Switch exclusive SMT V, launched in 2019. The biggest feature available in this upgraded re-release is the all new Canon of Vengeance route, which is essentially 40 hours of new story content. At $39.99, this is a steal for what will likely end up being one of the most popular RPGs of the year.
Pre-Order Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on Last-Gen Consoles
In case you’re still playing on a PS4 or Xbox One, EA just recently announced that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be coming to last-gen systems this September. You can now pre-order the game for PS4 or Xbox One on Amazon for $49.99. While this might not be a deal, this is a new pre-order that was just recently announced.
Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package for $36.49
If you’re itching to start a new series, Kingdom Hearts is one of the best out there to jump into. From Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts mashes together the worlds of Disney and Square Enix to tell the tale of light and darkness. This All-in-One package contains a total of ten games, with everything up to Kingdom Hearts III included. Now is the perfect time to get caught up before Kingdom Hearts IV, so pick up the All-in-One bundle today and jump into Sora’s journey.
Skull and Bones for $10
If you’ve waited on a sale for Skull and Bones, now is the time to pick up this pirate adventure. Best Buy has the game for just $10 today, and this will likely be the lowest we’ll see the title. The Best Buy Exclusive Limited Edition includes a bonus mission in addition to the main campaign.
ASUS ROG 65W Charger Dock for $29.99
Best Buy currently has the ROG 65W Charger Dock available for $29.99. This device is the perfect accessory if you’re looking to play with your handheld PC on the big screen. With its minimal size, you can easily pack it in a bag with no issues. This device works with both the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck, as it just requires a USB-C port to pass through both power and display.
Save 21% Off Lenovo Legion Go
Amazon currently has the Lenovo Legion Go for $550.11, which is 21% off the MSRP of $699.99. This device includes the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. If you’re on the lookout for a solid handheld gaming PC to play through your PC library, the Lenovo Legion Go can be a great choice.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $19.99
Great news for stealth action fans: Amazon has Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 available for $19.99, which matches the previous low we’ve seen since this game released. This is a great package with the first three Metal Gear Solid games, in addition to Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. If you’ve yet to play through the Metal Gear series, the Master Collection is how to do so on modern platforms.
Splatoon 3 for $39.99
Splatoon 3 is available right now for just $34.99! If you have yet to pick up a Splatoon game, Splatoon 3 is a perfect starting point. As it is still the latest game in the series, content updates are still releasing alongside Splatfests. You can also play through the Side Order DLC, offering a fun new campaign!
2021 9th Gen Apple iPad 10.2″ 64GB for $224
New price drop!
Starting today, Amazon is offering the 9th gen (2021) Apple iPad 10.2″ Wi-Fi 64GB tablet for only $229. This is the best price we’ve ever seen for this particular model, and right now it’s $70 cheaper than the newest 10th gen model. This is the most affordable iPad model you can get brand new with warranty.
Save on Apple AirTags
Amazon currently has the four pack of Apple AirTags listed for $72.99, which is savings of over 25%. This roughly equates to just over $18 per AirTag. AirTags are perfect for placing in any items you need to track, such as a suitcase, backpack, or wallet.
Epic Games is working with Disney to bring some of its iconic villains, as well as a host of new Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel characters, to Fortnite.
The latest Fortnite collaboration was revealed at the Disney Experiences Showcase at D23 2024. The latest crossover starts next week with Mandalorian characters like Grogu set to show up on August 12. Then, Fortnite’s next season will usher in the age of Doctor Doom with its Absolute Doom theme, bringing more Marvel-themed skins and items for players to toy with on August 16. You can see a trailer for Absolute Doom below.
It’s time for the heroes’ journey. And the enemies’ Absolute Doom.
Disney is far from done with Fortnite. This fall, Fortnite players can look forward to appearances from a selection of iconic Disney villains like Maleficent, Cruella De Vill, and Captain Hook. Pixar characters are on the way, too. Specifically, Disney’s superhero family, the Incredibles, will show up in-game, with players able to enjoy content based on heroes like Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Frozone.
Developing…
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
Quickly earning a reputation as the face of the looter shooter genre in the years since its release, Borderlands really has become one of gaming’s most recognisable franchises. From its cel-shaded art style to its masked psycho poster child, the foul-mouthed, tongue-in-cheek sci-fi universe is now a staple of modern video game culture. It’s not stopping there though, with the series quickly morphing into a multimedia sensation in its own right, spinning off into comics, novels and even a tabletop game.
This month, that journey reaches its biggest milestone yet, with Borderlands finally making its long-awaited jump to the big screen courtesy of Hostel and Thanksgiving director, Eli Roth. Reimagining Pandora and its vault-obsessed locals for a brand new audience. And while the film did not review particuarly well, it’s still a major step for any franchise.
With the Borderlands movie now in theaters, there’s likely to be a lot of new and returning fans looking to dive back into the games and reacquaint themselves with where it all started. So, we decided to put together a quick timeline of the series to get you caught up on how it all fits together.
In total, there are currently seven Borderlands games and spin-offs that are canon to the series, and two smaller, non-canon titles: Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball and Borderlands Legends.
Where’s The Best Place to Start?
While it’s the simplest answer, the best place to start is arguably Borderlands 1, although if you don’t care about the story, any of the three mainline games are a good introduction.
All three entries in the trilogy are relatively similar in style, scope and gameplay, and better yet, they’re all available on modern consoles and PC. That being said, there is a great overarching story that runs through the Borderlands saga, and if you’ve just come off the movie and want to follow it as intended, starting from the beginning is the best way to play.
Every Canon Borderlands Game in Chronological Order
These blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Borderlands (2009)
The game that kickstarted it all. The very first Borderlands launched in 2009, telling the story of Lilith, Brick, Roland and Mordecai: a group of four “Vault Hunters” that venture out on the treasure hunt of a lifetime. Arriving on the volatile planet of Pandora, they seek out a legendary bunker known as The Vault, which is said to house unimaginable treasures.
As expected, their expedition quickly turns into a chaotic maelstrom of carnage, with the group facing off against a militia known as the Crimson Lance, contending with the planet’s savage wildlife and taking down hordes of bloodthirsty bandits. From the moment Borderlands hit shelves, it was a huge hit, launching the looter shooter genre into the stratosphere through its compelling gameplay loop of killing masses of enemies, discovering a near-limitless supply of guns and building your chosen character.
The game was also supported heavily after release, getting a further four expansions that took the game from zombie-themed islands to a tongue-in-cheek riff on Mad Max’s Thunderdome.
2. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)
Developed by 2K Australia with the assistance of Gearbox Software, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel may have launched after Borderlands 2, but it fills in the gap between the first two Borderlands games. The story follows a group of new Vault Hunters, Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha and Claptrap, as they head out on a mission to find a Vault on the moon of Elpis.
The Pre-Sequel was, in a lot of ways, a bunch more of the Borderlands fans knew and loved. Set in a new locale with fresh classes to master and learn, it offered more guns, boss fights, quests and enemy encounters to plough through while the world waited for an inevitable Borderlands 3. However, its main selling point was further fleshing out the story of Borderlands 2, with the game featuring the second game’s main antagonist, Handsome Jack, in a leading role.
Alongside featuring many of the second game’s main bosses and characters years before their roles in the sequel’s story, it also offered a full view of Jack’s descent into madness, establishing the iconic foe’s origins. Much like the other games, 2K Australia added several expansions after the game launched, including the Holodome Onslaught and Claptastic Voyage maps, as well as two playable characters: the Doppelganger and the Baroness.
3. Borderlands 2 (2012)
The official sequel to Borderlands, Borderlands 2 launched in 2012, bringing players back to Pandora with a new squad of ambitious Vault Hunters in tow. The tale begins with our heroes, Maya, Axton, Salvador and Zer0, heading to Pandora to search for a new Vault. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the planet’s overlord, the sadistic Handsome Jack, doesn’t take kindly to brave adventurers seeking fame and fortune by uncovering the latest fabled Vault on Pandora. While riding a train across the untamed planet, Jack attempts to have them killed, leaving them stranded in an icy wasteland.
Left for dead, the team set out on an adventure to discover the truth behind Handsome Jack’s schemes, attempting to stop to him and find the Vault in the process. Borderlands 2 was essentially a bigger, more expansive take on the original game, offering plenty of quests, new classes to master, a charismatic main villain to take down and, somehow, even more guns to find and collect.
It’s still regarded by many as the best Borderlands to date, offering a fun story, memorable combat encounters and a healthy dose of the series’ trademark sense of humour. Much like the first game, it also came with a bunch of post-release support, including four additional campaigns, two bonus playable characters, and several Headhunter missions.
4. Tales From The Borderlands (2014 – 2015)
The first full spin-off of the series, Tales From The Borderlands was Walking Dead developer Telltale’s take on the Borderlands universe, offering an episodic, story-focused adventure set on the surface of Pandora. Unlike the mainline entries, Tales doesn’t centre on a team of super-powered, gun-obsessed Vault Hunters. Instead, it follows a crook and a corporate lackey who unwittingly stumble into a grand adventure.
Set after the events of Borderlands 2, we follow Rhys, a Hyperion employee lobbying for a higher position in the company, and Fiona, a con artist working with her sister, Sasha. After Rhys attempts to one-up a colleague by intercepting a deal to acquire a vault key, he learns the key was a fake in a con set-up by Fiona, entangling the two together and setting off a chain reaction of events that put them on the trail of a brand new Vault.
As with all of Telltale’s games, Tales From The Borderlands focuses primarily on a branching, cinematic story with moral choices that can change the direction of the narrative. In the years following its release, Tales From The Borderlands has been acknowledged as a key piece of the Borderlands canon, with original characters from the game even popping up in Borderlands 3.
5. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (2022)
Gearbox Software’s most recent entry in the Borderlands franchise, from the outside, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands doesn’t look like a Borderlands game. Subbing out futuristic desert wastelands for a sprawling fantasy kingdom, while Wonderlands may have plenty of dragons, goblins and unicorns, it’s very much still a Borderlands game in everything but the setting.
Acting as a fully-fledged version of the beloved Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands once again has you entering the world of Bunkers and Badasses; the Borderlands equivalent of Dungeons and Dragons. With Tina as your very enthusiastic dungeon master, you’ll battle against a range of fantasy monsters, embark on some heroic quests and battle your way to the monstrous Dragon Lord.
As with all Borderlands games, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands boasts a metric ton of guns to find, classes to master and enemies to kill, while also incorporating new ideas to complement the shift in setting, such as an overworld area you traverse between missions and the ability to use spells. It also has its own helping of expansions to dig into, with four separate DLCs featuring new dungeons, bosses and gear.
6. Borderlands 3 (2019)
Seven years after the release of Borderlands 2, Gearbox Software returned for an official third entry, launching Borderlands 3 in 2019. As always, the threequel brings a fresh new cast of Vault Hunters into the fray, introducing players to Amara, FL4K, Zane and Moze, and sending them out on a chaotic new adventure.
This time around, players are tasked with stopping a pair of murderous siren twins named Troy and Tyreen, who are venturing across the galaxy and harnessing the power inside the vaults for a mysterious cause. In a franchise first, players are tasked with travelling to multiple planets to take them down, teaming with an array of familiar faces such as Lilith, Rhys, Maya, Brick, Zer0 and, of course, Claptrap.
As always, you can expect plenty of looter shooter chaos to ensue, with a heap of guns to find, enemies to eviscerate and new character classes to master. There’s also plenty of DLC content to jump into when you’re done, with Borderlands 3’s additional content offering four new campaigns, takedown missions and even designer and director cuts that resurrect a bunch of content left on the cutting room floor.
7. New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)
Gearbox Software’s official follow-up to Tales From The Borderlands, New Tales From The Borderlands is currently the last game on the chronological timeline. Bringing in a slate of fresh characters instead of opting for a continuation of the original Tales game, New Tales has three protagonists: Anu, Octavio and Fran.
The story follows the group’s adventures after stumbling into a vault and finding a precious artefact, which inadvertently puts them in the line of fire of the Tediore corporation and its ruthless CEO, Susan Coldwell. With the relic now in their possession, the trio begins to uncover its true powers, all the while attempting to evade Coldwell as she hunts them down.
Much like the previous game, New Tales From The Borderlands is focused almost entirely on weaving a branching story that adapts and warps based on your choices. You can expect plenty of dialogue options, QTE fight sequences and tough decisions that will impact the outcome of the adventure.
Every Borderlands Game in Release Order
Borderlands (2009)
Borderlands Legends (2012)
Borderlands 2 (2012)
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014)
Tales From The Borderlands (2014 – 2015)
Borderlands 3 (2019)
Tiny Tina’s Wonderland (2022)
New Tales From The Borderlands (2022)
Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball (2023)
What’s Next For Borderlands?
In terms of games, Borderlands 4 appears to be the next major release on the horizon. Gearbox Software revealed the sequel exists and is currently being worked on after the studio announced it was being acquired by Take-Two earlier this year, with Gearbox head Randy Pitchford telling us in an interview that “It’s the greatest thing [the studio has] ever done.”
Although that’s all we have to go on for now, It seems as though projects in the Borderlands universe could be more frequent going forward. We learned recently that the franchise will be a big focus for Take-Two following the acquisition, with Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick noting in a investor’s call that the company sees a lot of “potential growth opportunities” for the IP. We’ll have to wait to see exactly what Zelnick means by that, but it appears we could be trekking to Pandora a lot more in the coming years.
Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he’s away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.
