Embracing the Chaos

Borderlands is built on chaos. But when chaos and order exist on a spectrum, there will always be those who go too far in one direction. For Gearbox, a studio that has always thrived in the spaces between two seemingly opposed categorizations, falling too far on one side or the other can cause the tightrope act it performs with each entry in the Borderlands franchise to come crashing down. 

Over the last decade, that tightrope act has seen a few wobbles as the releases have veered slightly too far in one direction, but it has thus far resisted falling. Now, as the studio refocuses its efforts to exist in the spaces between myriad categories, Gearbox is ready to release the most ambitious game in its most popular series. And if what I played and saw during my exclusive sessions is any indication, it could also very well be the best Borderlands yet.

Establishing Order

Strolling through Gearbox’s Frisco, Texas headquarters, it’s easy to get lost in the labyrinthine twists and circular layouts. Around every corner is a different themed conference room, ranging from surfing, superheroes, and tranquility to magic, a worn-down woodshed, and even one themed after Orange Crush. Though it would be easy for these extravagantly decorated rooms or the robust game areas, which feature arcade cabinets, pinball machines, ping-pong and pool tables, and even a massive custom-made tabletop RPG table, to be the focal point, Gearbox doesn’t let you forget the franchise for which it’s most well-known.

The lobby contains artifacts of other series it’s worked on as well as the many awards it has taken home over its two and a half decades of existence, but Gearbox clearly embraces Borderlands above all else.