Borderlands 4’s Cut Weapon Manufacturers Deserve One Last Hurrah Before Launch

One of the most important features of a looter shooter – and the very reason behind the genre’s title – is its arsenal of weapons. Good looter shooters need to offer a wide variety of weapons that are so satisfying to use that they become the main driving force behind the gameplay loop. The Borderlands franchise knows this all too well, and Borderlands 4‘s arsenal could already be destined for greatness.

2019’s Borderlands 3 tried to go bigger than any entry before it, and in the process many of its systems lost the laser focus they had in previous installments. Weapons, for instance, greatly suffered from this bigger=better approach as players were constantly bombarded with guns that barely stood out from another. This, in turn, had a significant impact on the game’s pacing, as the grind for loot didn’t feel nearly as special as it once did. Borderlands 4 seems to be pairing things back a bit when it comes to weapons, and that includes the removal of some of the franchise’s most beloved weapon manufacturers. But there’s still time for a swansong.

Borderlands 4 randy pitchford development

Borderlands 4’s sales controversy is proof the industry needs transparency, even though it won’t listen to what Randy Pitchford has to say

Randy Pitchford’s comments on future Borderlands 4 sales have not gone over well, but the transparency should be welcomed instead of shunned.

Borderlands 4’s Cut Weapon Manufacturers Shouldn’t Be Forgotten

Every Borderlands 4 Weapon Manufacturer Confirmed So Far

At the time of writing, there are eight weapon manufacturers confirmed for Borderlands 4. Those eight include three brand-new weapon manufacturers:

Order: Shots can be charged into more powerful bursts at the cost of ammo
Ripper: Fires full-auto rounds for as long as players hold the trigger, but needs some time to start up
Daedalus: Allows players to use multiple ammo types

Joining these three exciting new weapon makers are five returning Borderlands weapon manufacturers, some of which have been a staple of the franchise since its very inception:

Jakobs: Critical hits cause bullets to ricochet
Maliwan: Always charged with at least one elemental effect
Tediore: After unloading a full clip of ammunition, players throw the gun like a grenade
Torgue: Fire explosive rounds that can be switched into sticky grenades
Vladof: High ammo count and rate of fire but reduced accuracy

Some Iconic Borderlands Weapon Manufacturers Aren’t Returning in Borderlands 4

Astute fans might already realize that Borderlands 4‘s list of confirmed weapon manufacturers is missing some of the series’ most iconic brands. There are four weapon manufacturers that won’t be returning in Borderlands 4, at least not in the usual capacity:

Dahl: High stability and accuracy, and most weapons can swap between burst fire, single shot, and automatic
COV: (Children of the Vault): Draws ammunition from reserve pool so weapons never need to be reloaded, but they can overheat
Atlas: Fires smart bullets that home onto tagged enemies
Hyperion: Aiming down sights produces a shield on the barrel of the weapon

While it makes lore sense for Borderlands 4 to leave COV and Hyperion weapons behind after the defeat of their respective leaders, it’ll still be sad to see them go. And it’ll be even stranger to say goodbye to Dahl and Atlas, two weapon manufacturers that have been in the franchise since its 2009 debut.

Borderlands 4 will feature a Licensed Part system that will let players find weapons that feature an assortment of parts from different manufacturers, such as a gun with a Maliwan barrel and Torgue magazine. Atlas and Hyperion aren’t getting fully-fledged weapons of their own, but they will at least be present in Borderlands 4‘s Licensed Part system.

Why Players Should Go Back and Give These Borderlands Weapon Manufacturers a Final Send-Off

Before players eagerly jump into Borderlands 4 this September, they might want to consider hopping back into Borderlands 3 for a few hours or so, just to give these weapon manufacturers one final send-off. Dahl, Atlas, Hyperion, and even COV all brought something unique to the table, and they deserve one final shot in the spotlight before they’re put on the back burner, or potentially even left in the dust altogether.

Replaying Borderlands 3 will also be a great way for players to refresh their memory on Borderlands 3‘s loot grind, gunplay mechanics, and progression systems, so that they can go into Borderlands 4 with a good idea of what they liked about its predecessor and what they want the long-awaited follow-up to improve upon. Prioritizing these weapon manufacturers during a replay will also give players a strong foundation for any comparisons they might want to make between Borderlands 3 and Borderlands 4‘s weapons.