Games

Every Character Returning in Borderlands 4 Revealed So Far

Published

22 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Christoph Rediske

borderlands 4 returning characters zane flynt claptrap and gaige

Summary

Table of Contents

Zane Flynt returns as an NPC in Borderlands 4, offering a chance for further character development.
Claptrap’s iconic humor will make a return, adding to the genuine Borderlands experience in the game.
Nine-Toes may be making a comeback, hinting at potential callbacks to earlier titles in Borderlands 4.

Borderlands 4‘s release is drawing nearer, which means fans are likely to continue seeing more information about the game revealed. The latest reveal for Borderlands 4 took place at the 2024 Game Awards, where a gameplay trailer showcased many of the game’s biggest features — like its Vault Hunters, open world, new vehicle system, weapons, grappling hook, and more. Also included in that trailer are several “confirmations” of beloved Borderlands characters who will apparently be returning in the next game.

The Borderlands series has never shied away from seeing its best characters return, so it makes sense that Borderlands 4 would be no different. So far, a few of the series’ most memorable characters will be making a return in Borderlands 4, which suggests even more returns are possible.

Borderlands 4: Who is the Timekeeper?

Borderlands 4’s Timekeeper is shrouded in mystery, but hints suggest he is tied to time manipulation, echoing past Vault secrets and Eridian lore.

Borderlands 4 Already Features Several Returning Characters

Zane Flynt Returns From Borderlands 3

One of Borderlands 4‘s returning characters is Zane Flynt, who debuted in Borderlands 3 as one of its playable Vault Hunters. Unfortunately, Zane was arguably the worst Vault Hunter in Borderlands 3, not on account of his lovable and charming personality, but simply due to his gameplay. Compared to Borderlands 3‘s other Vault Hunters, Zane has a much higher skill ceiling, as his more viable builds are just about as complex as his backstory. Ultimately, this initially resulted in him having much lower damage output than the other playable characters before Gearbox released a balancing update that favored him.

Now that he’s returning in Borderlands 4 as an NPC, however, Zane has a chance to rise to a position of noteworthiness that he missed out on in Borderlands 3. Since Zane will be an NPC rather than a playable Vault Hunter in Borderlands 4, there are more opportunities for the game to develop his character, which is especially advantageous for him, considering his ties to the infamous Borderlands villains, Baron and Captain Flynt.

Claptrap Has Been Confirmed to Make an Appearance

Of course, Borderlands 4 wouldn’t be a Borderlands game without the accompanying jokes and sarcasm of the lovable robotic mascot Claptrap, who has appeared in every mainline Borderlands game and several spin-offs. It’s currently unclear what Claptrap’s role will be in Borderlands 4, but his iconic humor and quirky personality will help make it feel more like a genuine Borderlands experience, regardless of where its story goes or what its world ends up looking like.

Nine-Toes Appears to Be Returning From Borderlands

A character who was spotted in the latest gameplay trailer for Borderlands 4 but hasn’t necessarily been outright confirmed to reappear is Nine-Toes, a bandit lord and the first major boss encountered in the original Borderlands game. His supposed appearance in Borderlands 4 raises a lot of questions about the game’s narrative, especially when it comes to its potential to explore time manipulation, since Nine-Toes was defeated in the first game. In any case, his inclusion suggests that Borderlands 4 may feature callbacks to earlier titles, potentially reintroducing familiar characters and storylines.

Gaige May Be Returning From Borderlands 2

Another character that has seemingly been revealed to return in Borderlands 4 is Gaige, the Mechromancer from Borderlands 2. A significant part of this theory comes from Borderlands 4‘s official teaser trailer, which shows a mechanical hand resembling Gaige’s picking up a psycho mask. Originally, this was thought to be the hand of Borderlands 4‘s antagonist, but the Timekeeper’s hand in the new gameplay trailer for Borderlands 4 doesn’t match the hand shown in the teaser trailer, providing even further evidence of Gaige’s return.

As anticipation for Borderlands 4 continues to build, the possible return of beloved characters like Zane Flynt, Claptrap, Nine-Toes, and potentially Gaige only adds to that anticipation. These familiar faces should help connect veteran Borderlands fans to the latest entry with nostalgia and potentially deeper storytelling, especially for characters like Zane. Whether through heartfelt reunions or surprising twists, fans can expect Borderlands 4 to celebrate what makes Borderlands special.