Borderlands’ Claptrap Dialogue Slider May Be Funny, But It’s Also Playing With Fire

The wait for Borderlands 4 is drawing to a close, and as the game’s launch date slowly appears on the horizon, more information and details are beginning to surface. Based on the game’s trailers, Borderlands 4 is opting for a more serious tone this time around, which could be a refreshing change of pace. Over the years, Borderlands has become known for its special brand of humor, but pulling back a little bit is compelling.

However, just because the overall tone is a bit more serious doesn’t mean that there still isn’t humor to be found within the game. There are certain characters in the Borderlands universe that many players have grown to dread, and one of the most notable of these is Claptrap. Notorious for his obnoxious dialogue and personality, Claptrap’s return in Borderlands 4 is bound to be divisive, but developer Gearbox Software has found a hilarious way to handle the character. It was recently discovered that Borderlands 4 will feature a volume slider for Claptrap. While funny, this could also pave the way for a major slippery slope with other characters that players deem annoying.

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Borderlands 4’s Claptrap Volume Slider Could Open the Character Censorship Floodgates

Borderlands Has No Shortage of Divisive Characters

The many characters of the Borderlands franchise tend to have strong personalities, and even if they are beloved entry staples like Lilith, there is still the occasional player who could do without them. However, there are a few characters who find themselves among the same ranks as Claptrap. Certain characters have the misfortune of being disliked by a large number of players, and if Claptrap is getting his very own censor, then it’s possible that fans will eventually call for this to be a regular feature for the franchise’s particularly divisive cast members.

Characters like Ava and Davis Pickle have gained a reputation as some of the most disliked in the series. While it’s expected that Ava will appear in Borderlands 4, there are bound to be requests for a volume slider on her, as well. Of course, Ava may very well have come a long way since Borderlands 3, but many who know her from her introduction as an immature and mouthy sidekick would quickly opt for a volume slider.

Borderlands 4‘s Claptrap slider is in line with the franchise’s specific sense of humor, but also, the feature also risks being a step too far. This could make less popular characters even more divisive. Borderlands 4‘s features are intriguing, but the ability to completely take a character’s voice out of the game may hurt the overall experience in the long run.

Claptrap’s Status as a Nuisance Has Become One of Borderlands’ Longest Running Jokes

• Borderlands 4 launches on September 12.

When it comes to Claptrap, it’s more of a love-to-hate situation, so the volume slider is definitely a fun extension of that joke. However, Claptrap’s divisive personality is part of the Borderlands experience. He’s been a staple in the franchise since the first entry, so the volume option may better be left as a gimmick rather than any kind of actual feature that is to be used in earnest. The Borderlands franchise has continued to evolve, and while the volume slider is undoubtedly a hilarious detail, it may need to stay a one-off feature.

Regardless, the wait for Borderlands 4 is almost over. The next mainline entry in the long-running series is set to be one of the first big releases of the fall, and with its new cast of Vault Hunters, it will be thrilling to see what the story has in store, even if Claptrap doesn’t shut up.

Borderlands 4

Released

September 12, 2025

ESRB

Rating Pending

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer

Cross-Platform Play

Yes – all