Borderlands 4 News Needs to Leave One Stone Unturned
Borderlands 3 might not have been the most well-received title in the Borderlands series, but its story undoubtedly ended with an emotional bang, as Lilith put herself in harm’s way to teleport Elpis, Pandora’s moon, away when it threatened to collide with the planet. Using her Siren powers, Lilith engulfed Elpis in flames, leaving her Firehawk symbol on its surface and many fans speculating on whether she was dead. Fortunately, Gearbox eventually revealed that Lilith was, in fact, not dead, though her fate is still unknown to this day. Now, as Borderlands 4 prepares for launch, it might be tempted to mention Lilith, but it would arguably be better off avoiding that.
There aren’t any real benefits to Borderlands 4 revealing Lilith’s fate before the game’s release, though its teaser trailer has certainly hinted at it. In the game’s teaser trailer, not only does Lilith’s Firehawk symbol appear in the space above Borderlands 4’s new location, Kairos, but a flaming object that could be the beloved Siren herself can be seen appearing in the sky alongside Elpis once it emerges through Lilith’s portal. Apart from that very much unconfirmed reveal of Lilith, nothing else has been said or shown. Now, it should stay that way for the remainder of Borderlands 4’s marketing phase, until players actually get firsthand experience with the game.
Borderlands 4’s Vault Hunters have garnered some significant criticism since their reveal, but the game’s NPCs may be able to avoid such complaints.
Keeping Lilith’s Fate Under Wraps Would Build Suspense and Intrigue
One of the main reasons Borderlands 4 might want to keep Lilith’s fate under wraps ahead of the game’s launch is that it would help build suspense and intrigue among fans. Borderlands 3 ended the way it did on purpose — leaving Lilith’s fate, and that of Elpis, unknown —so if Borderlands 4 were to outright reveal the outcome of that ending ahead of its release, it would arguably diminish the emotional weight carried by the last game’s conclusion. By withholding any information about Lilith’s fate or whereabouts in Borderlands 4 ahead of its launch, the game’s marketing can maintain the mystery and anticipation among fans, thereby encouraging further speculation and discussion in the community.
Arguably, one of the most efficient indirect marketing methods is community-driven discussion, and Borderlands 4 could take advantage of that by keeping Lilith’s fate a secret.
It’s not clear whether Lilith’s fate will play a prominent role in Borderlands 4’s story, but it certainly seems that way with how cryptic Gearbox and every reveal for the game so far has been about her. In light of that, revealing too much about Lilith ahead of time could spoil key plot points or lessen the impact of surprises that are integral to Borderlands 4’s story. Keeping her fate a mystery helps ensure players experience these moments together, and it would fall right in line with Borderlands’ history of satisfying plot twists and character-driven stories.
Maintaining the Mystery of Lilith’s Fate Ahead of Launch Would Heighten the Emotional Impact of Her Eventual Reveal
Not only would maintaining the mystery of Lilith’s fate ahead of Borderlands 4’s launch help sustain the emotional impact of Borderlands 3’s ending, but it would also heighten the emotional impact of her reveal in Borderlands 4’s story. Of course, since Gearbox has confirmed that Lilith is still alive, players won’t find her dead in Borderlands 4. However, that doesn’t mean she won’t eventually end up that way, and any reveals about her fate ahead of release could give fans too many clues and potentially spoil that part of the story for them if they happen to connect the dots.
In the end, Borderlands 4 has a rare opportunity to leverage the emotional weight and narrative mystery left behind by Borderlands 3 if it continues holding Lilith’s fate close to the chest. The Siren’s legacy burns brightest when left up to the interpretation of fans ahead of Borderlands 4’s launch, as it allows players to uncover the truth together, in the moment, as part of the shared adventure. By fully embracing this approach, Borderlands 4 can ensure its story impacts players on an even deeper level, with the surprises and emotional payoff that have become the signature of the quintessential Borderlands experience.