Changes that Borderlands 4 Needs in Future Updates

There is no such thing as a perfect game, and Borderlands 4 is a prime example of this. From the start, the game has been plagued with issues that many have openly complained about, and while Gearbox has fixed some of these, there are still many issues that need to be addressed.

Let's face it, making a new character isn't as fun as it used to be, and the level grind can feel absolutely draining. If Gearbox wants Borderlands 4 to keep going and succeed, the developer should make these changes in the upcoming updates. At the very least, take them into consideration.

7 Add a Level 50 Character Option

Reduce the Grind

After you beat the main story of Borderlands 4, you are given the option to be able to create a new character at level 30. This level was chosen because you should be around level 30 when you complete the campaign for the first time.

When creating a character like this, it automatically completes the main story, but you are then forced to grind side missions or bounties, or constantly farm bosses like the Timekeeper until you reach the max level, which is 60 thanks to the Mad Ellie DLC.

This grind is often found to be boring and uneventful, with many complaining that it takes far too long to complete. Gearbox should add the option to create a level 50 character. This way, you can still grind the 10 levels to reach level 60 instead of needing to grind 30 levels or, in the future, 40 when the level cap inevitably reaches 70.

6 Change the Infamy System

Make Everything My Level

Let's face it, after you complete the campaign the first time, you probably don't want to replay the game's numerous side missions. After all, many of them can drag on. This is why Gearbox should either remove the infamy system or add an option to turn it off.

To explain: the infamy system makes it so if you only play the main story, you will quickly become under leveled as enemies start appearing that are much higher level than you. This forces you into grinding levels. The worst part is that you can't farm bosses for this, as doing so will result in the enemies remaining at a higher level.

Instead, you are forced to complete side missions, which is especially annoying if you have already completed them before. Gearbox should allow you to turn off the infamy system or make it so farming bosses works as a way to level up.

5 Make Pearlescent Items Better

They are Underwhelming

After a long wait, Gearbox finally added Pearlescent weapons to Borderlands 4. There is just one major problem with them: they are pretty underwhelming, and most people don't use them.

A Pearlescent from the Mad Ellie DLC is called the Sole Survivor, and it sounds good in theory, but then you realize that it is only good in one situation. The pistol is only powerful when you are playing co-op and all of your allies are in fight for your life.

This is similar to every other Pearlescent weapon. None of them really matter, and most can be ignored unless you want to collect them. Gearbox shouldn't let Pearlescent weapons be a joke again, and should instead make them powerful. After all, they are very rare weapons.

4 Rewarding Side Missions

Something Other than a Randomized Reward

Speaking of side missions, they aren't very rewarding. It is easy to notice this when you first play through the campaign. When you complete a side mission, you get some experience and get a reward sent to your character.

Said reward then needs to be opened, which is very easy to forget about, leading to a massive pile of unclaimed rewards sitting in your inventory. When you replay the campaign, the side missions somehow feel even less rewarding — even more so if you skip the campaign by making a level 30 character.

DLCs have done nothing to fix this, and it makes the DLCs drag just as much as replaying the campaign. It would be nice if Gearbox would throw in some more special loot, extra skins, or maybe additional bosses that are only obtainable from side missions. This would give players more of an incentive to play the side missions.

3 More Endgame Events

Circle of Slaughter Maybe

Is it just me, or is the endgame in Borderlands 4 just as bland now as it was at launch? At this point, Borderlands 3 had multiple takedowns, raids, and more for players to go back to. Unfortunately, Borderlands 4 doesn't have any of that.

To be fair, takedowns will be added in the future, so this is being fixed, but there needs to be more than just takedowns and more bosses. It would be nice to see past events return. For instance, perhaps Mr. Torgue could bring back the Circle of Slaughter, or maybe Moxxi could bring back slot machines.

There is a lot that Gearbox can do to make the endgame of Borderlands 4 more enjoyable, and while there are obvious additions that will be made, the team can definitely add more.

2 Stop Recycling Content

Everything is the Same

As a massive Borderlands fan, it is fun to farm bosses and make builds, but admittedly, it gets old after a while. Gearbox hasn't done anything to make Borderlands 4 feel unique. Instead, it feels like every piece of new content is just more of the same old stuff from the base game.

Each of the bounty pack DLCs has been a short run to another boss to farm, and the first story expansion is more of the same. When you examine it further, much of the content from the story expansion is copied from the base game as well.

For instance, the record players in the Mad Ellie DLC are just the Evocariums from the base game with a different skin. The same goes for the Dahl Bunker, which is just a reskinned version of the Ripper Sites.

If Gearbox wants Borderlands 4 to succeed, the devs need to come up with some fresh content that will keep players interested instead of reskinning all the content from the base game and calling it new.

Reward Us for Searching

Past Borderlands games had some pretty insane hidden details that are just missing from Borderlands 4. While I respect that Gearbox wanted to make an open world, it feels like the magic was taken away from it.

For instance, in Borderlands 2, you can grab Geary's Gear from Claptrap's fireplace. If you walk this item all the way to Eridium Blight, you will come face-to-face with Geary, and letting him hit you will reward you with two red chests.

Where are these hidden details in Borderlands 4? Sure, there are some easter eggs, but nothing that compares to finding the Excalibastard in The Pre-Sequel, and being able to pull it from the stone. Gearbox needs to add more magic to this open world to reward those who go searching.