Borderlands 3's Bounty of Blood DLC releases in a couple of days, meaning fans will get to check out its content sooner rather than later. But based on the marketing for it thus far, it seems wildly different from past Borderlands 3 DLC and even previous games at that.
While it does remain to be seen and this is mostly speculation, there are two key factors that make it stand out. First, it is being shipped as presenting players with a brand new cast of characters, seemingly at the expense of current characters, as well as no returning Vault Hunter. The first two gave players new faces, sure, but retained the old while bringing back Jack's Doppelganger, Timothy, and Gaige the Mechromancer. It's possible a Vault Hunter like Salvador pops up, but if Gaige of all characters was no secret, a base character likely wouldn't be either.
Secondly, it appears more reactive. The language on the official Borderlands 3 website surrounding its town of Vestige suggests it will grow and change based on player agency. This makes it a first, a break in tradition, and a black sheep so to speak. After all, looking at the other campaign and story-focused DLC from the franchise, it's a huge discrepancy.
Borderlands 1 DLC
In the first game, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, and Claptrap's New Robot Revolution. There's also Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, which is the first introduction of the fan-favorite character, but this DLC does not introduce a spin-off story. Instead, it sets the precedent for wave-based and arena related shenanigans found throughout the franchise. The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned begins the tradition of keeping the characters familiar with characters like Tannis appearing for side missions, and Dr. Zed/Ned appearing as an antagonist.
The Secret Armory of General Knoxx features returning characters like Scooter and Mad Moxxi, while the Claptrap's New Robot Revolution features the titular robot and Tannis. This set a precedent for characters from the main storyline to continuing developing in the DLC, even when the DLC did not add much to the overall story, but kept it feeling apart of it all due to these little connections.
Borderlands 2 DLC
Borderlands 2 can be seen as a slight departure from this tradition, but it still falls in the category on the loosest terms. Borderlands 2 DLC included Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty, Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage, Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, and Commander Lilith & The Fight for Sanctuary. The last three are pretty obvious, with each focusing on returning characters to some regard, while Mr. Torgue and Captain Scarlett are outliers.
Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage is technically his first appearance, despite existing since the first game via the company and the fact that he doesn't physically appear until the Assault on Dragon Keep. Regardless of whether or not he counts, the DLC does feature Mad Moxxi throughout. Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty is a bit of a black sheep itself, but it does feature a Rakk Hive, so that's something.
Borderlands The Pre-Sequel DLC
The one and only story DLC released for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is the Claptastic Voyage, which is a deep dive into Claptrap's mind, and features a few returning characters from the New Robot Revolution DLC and then some. It easily falls into this pattern of using past and current characters to build upon its story.
Borderlands 3 DLC
This brings us to Borderlands 3, where the first two DLC capture this entire pattern completely. Each is based on returning characters, more so than ever with an emphasis on past Vault Hunters returning in the DLC, and tells a story that brings them to life. The first is about player, vicariously through their new character, and Mad Moxxi getting closure on Handsome Jack's storyline. The second is about the love between two characters, long-runner Hammerlock and the semi-new Wainwright, as well as the emotional connection between Gaige and Deathtrap.
Borderlands 3 DLC 4 even seems to be following this pattern, as the promo art for it shows a split in Krieg, and it's likely to do something for him that Assault on Dragon Keep did for Tiny Tina. But then there's Bounty of Blood, which has yet to reveal a familiar face but instead introduces a few new ones, and a DLC that seems disconnected out on its own planet.
This is not a bad thing, though. It allows Gearbox to tell its Western story without any past expectations creeping up, it allows newcomers Juno and Rose (among others) the opportunity to shine without being in anyone's shadow, and barring any surprises that Gearbox has hidden, it means the DLC will stand out amongst others for one reason or another. Fans will just have to wait a few more days to find out if expectations are subverted or up-held and just how big of a black sheep Bounty of Blood actually is.
Borderlands 3's Bounty of Blood DLC releases June 25th.