Summary
Level 72 is the Goldilocks number in theBorderlandsgames and many players feel like this level strikes a good balance between difficulty and buildcrafting choices. However, modding theBorderlandsgames to fill out all the skill trees can be an extremely fun way to play these games, yet many players have never had the chance to experience this, especially console players. Future games should arguably change that, and meanwhile kill two birds with one stone by also adding official mod support.
Unlocking every skill for thevault hunters in theBorderlandsfranchiseis the ultimate power fantasy, which arguably makes it money left on the table for Gearbox not to embrace by now. WithBorderlands 4presumably being the next game in the franchise, it’s naturally the perfect candidate for this kind of change, although futureBorderlandsgames in general should consider this as well.
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Borderlands 4 Should Learn from the Franchise’s Modding Community
Mods Can Help Refurbish Borderlands' Future
Setting the max level atlevel 72 in theBorderlandsgamesis a beloved tradition, but this doesn’t mean that future games shouldn’t experiment a little bit. Specifically,Borderlands 4, as well as future games in the franchise should consider allowing players to max out all of each character’s skill trees, regardless of whatever the max level ends up being, given that the modding community has already been allowing this for a while now.
The main reason that Gearbox should do this is that it can balance it to where it’s not ridiculously broken, even though that’s kind of the main appeal of this kind of thing. In theory, it doesn’t necessarily need to be broken to be fun, and it could potentially bring some more fun to what makesBorderlands’ Vault Hunters so enjoyable in the first place.
Borderlandscan have the best of both worlds, given that this new all-access progression system can exist at the same time as the familiar level 72 tradition that fans know and love. Making it a distinct and separate option could allow players to do this without disrupting both the traditional experience and the game’s online multiplayer.
None of this is to say thatBorderlands’ endgame contentloop is dull. Instead, the opposite is true, that most of the progression systems after reaching the max level throughout the games of the franchise, likeBorderlands’ weapon proficiencies and Guardian Ranks, are quite enjoyable. Still, it might be worthwhile to mix things up in future games, especially if it means official mod support.
The Borderlands Franchise Needs Official Mod Support
How Official Mod Support Would Only Help Borderlands Thrive
Players have been modding theBorderlandsgames ever since the first game in theBorderlandsfranchise. Not only is filling out all the skill trees highly popular amongBorderlands’ mods, but it’s also fairly common for players to create gear that has been customized to have extremely overpowered stats. In general, crafting is a common genre convention among looters, and although theBorderlandsfranchise hasn’t incorporated a proper crafting system yet, technically, the modding community already has.
The fact that the modding community was ahead of Gearbox with the foundations of a “crafting system” alone makes a strong case that theBorderlandsfranchise should introduce official mod support. Aside from custom weapons and gear, official support and proper tools for the modding community could pave the way for a variety of UGC content, like unique stories, new playable vault hunters, and other content in leagues withtheBorderlandsfranchise’s best DLCs.
The amount of value that official mod support could bring to theBorderlandsgames is unimaginable, which is why Gearbox should consider it sooner rather than later. At the very least, it’s time that moddingBorderlandsgames became more accessible.
Borderlands
Borderlands is an action RPG first-person shooter created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. The series is commonly called a looter shooter set in a space Western style, where players can select from multiple classes that can level up and acquire new skills. The franchise has quickly become one of the best-selling franchises and produced spin-offs like Tales from the Borderlands as well as a film adaptation being developed by Lionsgate.
