Borderlands 4will be the latest game in a franchise that has always been defined by its loot-centric action and hardline stance that explosions are a necessity for irreverent storytelling. Yet the series’ humor became increasingly bloated, with lowbrow punchlines and outdated memes. For many,Borderlands 3was the tipping point; a game that undercut its narrative with characters who seemed to pitch jokes as often as they breathed. Fortunately, the recent character short for Rafa signals thatBorderlands 4is a long-overdue course correction.
For players who struggled to love the narrative of the previous title, Rafa’s character short serves as a mission statement from Gearbox as much as it is an introduction to a new Vault Hunter. The short succeeds in balancing grim, violent world-building and humor that shows remarkable restraint. It’s reminiscent of the dark comedy found in the firstTales from the Borderlands, more so than the relentless jokes-per-minute sensibility ofBorderlands 3. If the short is indicative ofwhat’s to come inBorderlands 4, Gearbox appears to be thriving with a darker direction, without having to sacrifice the series’ identity.
Rafa’s Short Shows Borderlands 4’s Tone Has Been Recalibrated, Not Replaced
A tonal shift forBorderlands 4has been discussed since the title’s reveal, and the Rafa short is a great example of that new tone. The narrative director ofBorderlands 4tweeted last December that he remains critical ofBorderlands 3’s “overabundance of toilet humor.“It was a meaningful comment from the co-writer of that previous game, and a refreshing level of self-awareness, especially from someone at Gearbox Software. Still, it’s just as critical that this tone shift doesn’t come at the expense of the actual humor that made the franchise so great in the first place.
Rafa’s short is an assurance that this new approach to humor keepsBorderlands' strongest comedic sensibilities. Born in microgravity, his body could never withstand planetary environments without technological intervention. His life was effectively purchased by Tediore, who outfitted him with a Liveframe exo-suit, only to discover that the suit works just as well remotely if he’s dead. In typicalBorderlandsfashion, Rafa ends up annihilating his commander by grabbing a sentient gun by the leg and swinging it into his commander’s face.
The reveal of the “Deadframe” suit and Tediore valuing savings over soldiers is a healthy shot of the series' signature corporate satire, but the real brilliance lies in how the humor complements the horror. The sense of comedy on display is self-assured and deliberately undersold, a far cry from thehumor ofBorderlands 3. That balance enhances the actual stakes, without ever erasing them or selling them short.
Rafa’s skills inBorderlands 4, though not the centerpiece of the short, are also tightly woven into this lore. His abilities come from his exo-suit and range from shoulder-mounted cannons to melee-only arc blades.
Borderlands 4 May Finally Bring Back the Series’ Emotional Core
Rafa’s short is great because of its emotional clarity, and the comedy lands because it’s rooted in his absurd situation, not piled on top of it. The short’s ending even successfully captures more of the classicBorderlandstone, as the fellow Vault Hunters misunderstand his story and debate whether Rafa is technically now a vampire or a zombie in a genuinely funny exchange. It isn’t just loud or random like theworst parts ofBorderlands 3were; it’s smartly constructed and demonstrates restraint, and that’s a welcome change.
Lead writer forBorderlands 4, Taylor Clark, reinforced this idea of humor through restraint in June, stating that constant jokes wouldn’t mesh with the game’s new setting in the totalitarian world of Kairos.
Rafa is only the second of the new playable Vault Hunters to receive a lore drop, following Vex,Borderlands 4’s new Siren. The other two characters, Amon the Forge Knight and Harlowe the Gravitar, are expected to receive their spotlights soon. If their reveals maintain the momentum of the previous two,Borderlands 4would look all the more capable of bringing impactful storytelling back to the franchise.
A Tonal Shift Doesn’t Mean Borderlands 4 Is Forgetting Its Roots
It’s important to note that restraint on display absolutely doesn’t mean the series will become too serious. In fact, the upcoming entry seems more committed than ever to the franchise’s humor and irreverence. A perfect example of this isBorderlands 4’s new Claptrap volume slider, an actual settings option that allows players to mute the franchise’s infamous punching bag.
The implementation of a volume slider may not seem like much, but beyond face value, it’s a mechanical commitment to the series’ identity. In conjunction with the quality on display in Rafa’s character short and the other story beats showcased so far, it’s clearGearbox doesn’t wantBorderlandsto lose its identity. If Gearbox can maintain this level of narrative quality across its characters and campaign,Borderlands 4could be the story-focused installment that fans have wished for sinceBorderlands 2.
