Borderlands 3 has had a strong offering of DLC since its release, with the original Season Pass bringing four full expansions and the second offering different kinds of content. While the Designer’s Cut brought fresh skins, a new game mode, and additional skill trees, the Director’s Cut is set to give players access to a completely different set of items. A true raid boss will be coming alongside the battle pass-like Vault Card system, and a set of murder mystery missions will see players assisting Ava as she solves some crimes.

Intriguingly, it is this new quest line that could bring another Borderlands 3 character into the mix. While there have been several noteworthy patterns regarding the game’s DLC, including thematic connections to Borderlands 2 and the use of a different film genres throughout, one common pattern has been returning Vault Hunters. In the majority of the expansions, a character that was playable in the past has shown up, usually having a big role in the DLC’s story. As such, the Director’s Cut may be no different, with one of the old Vault Hunters having a major role in the new batch of quests.

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The Pattern Thus Far

First, taking a look at the pattern thus far before theorizing about the Director’s Cut is important. After all, not only does its existence add weight to the theory of a surprise Vault Hunter appearance, but the characters that have shown up in expansions thus far will likely not involved in this one. Thus far, every single DLC apart from Bounty of Blood has re-introduced players to a Vault Hunter, and the reappearances are as follows.

  • Moxxi’s Heist of The Handsome Jackpot: Timothy, otherwise known as the doppelganger of Handsome Jack, made his grand return in the first DLC for Borderlands 3. One of the few surviving Vault Hunters from Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Jack’s face and voice are the only things about the character that remain. Timothy is ultimately a force for good, and while he retains aspects of Jack’s personality that makes fans wonder if he could make a turn for the worst, this DLC depicts him in a good light.
  • Gun’s, Love, And Tentacles: While Guns, Love, And Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright and Hammerlock is ultimately focused on the game’s titular wedding, it is Gaige that steals the show. Borderlands 2’s Mechromancer makes her triumphant return in the expansion, serving as the couple’s wedding planner and bringing plenty of smiles and laughs for the player. Her relationship with Deathtrap is also highlighted, giving her a fair amount of screen time alongside the two grooms.
  • Psycho Krieg and The Fantastic Fustercluck: Krieg’s expansion is, unsurprisingly, all about Krieg. The fan favorite psycho from Borderlands 2 gets plenty of time to shine here, with Krieg’s “sane” voice getting plenty of dialogue to himself. Dark moments showing Krieg’s torture are included alongside funnier moments that depict a massive Krieg in a field of enemies. The expansion also deals with Krieg’s grief over Maya, with the DLC concluding in a heartfelt conversation between the popular pairing.
  • The Designer’s Cut: Finally, there is the Arms Race game mode, which sees the unique concept treated as a game show. The two commentators are none other than Axton and Salvador, the playable Soldier and Gunzerker from Borderlands 2. Constantly talking over the action, seeing the duo again is a nice bit of fan service that also sees the Vault Hunter trend carry on beyond traditional DLC expansions.

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Who Could Show Up Next?

Borderlands 3 Murder Mysteries

One big hint regarding Ava’s murder mystery missions in Borderlands 3 is that the deaths supposedly have a supernatural cause. While a classic, simple ghost story is not out of the question, as the game’s use of a Cthulu-inspired cult and dinosaur-riding cowboys shows that there are no limitations, these missions may be something more. After all, Ava’s involvement could suggest that these killings are caused by a Siren, something that puts a few interesting options on the table.

First, Lilith could be involved with the murders, as fans never truly saw her die in Borderlands 3’s ending. While her demise is implied, it is possible that she was corrupted in some way while venturing out to space. If this is true, a twisted take on Lilith could be committing these crimes on multiple planets. Clearly having the ability to leave Pandora for Elpis, the Firehawk could possibly have the power to fly to other planets as well, an important detail considering that the crimes are galaxy-wide. If fans see fire used for any of the crimes when playing the Director’s Cut missions, this idea could become a reality, setting Lilith up as Borderlands 4’s main antagonist.

At the same time, the supernatural nature of the crimes could imply that another dead character is to blame. Perhaps Aurelia Hammerlock is haunting the world after her death, with the playable Pre-Sequel character hunting down anyone that may have wronged her. Still, there is no real evidence that would suggest Aurelia could ever be seen again, making a ghostly comeback unlikely for the deceased villain. Antagonists may be a good thing to consider, though, as they seem more likely to kill random people than one of the game's heroes. While neither were playable, The Calypso Twins were indeed Vault Hunters, and it is possible that Tyreen or Troy Calypso gained some hidden powers in their quest that could allow them to seek revenge from beyond the grave.

Finally, with so little known about Sirens, perhaps they can influence the world in a way that is similar to how Force Ghosts work in the Star Wars universe. If this is possible, Maya could be involved as well, giving Ava a bit more time with her mentor. However, it is a bit hard to believe that the good-natured Siren would be killing random people after her death, meaning that Gearbox would need to come up with quite the explanation for her crimes. Possibly framing the killings as accidental, there is a possibility that the Director's Cut is used to either retcon or expand upon Maya's death.

Regardless of who the killer is, Ava having an interest in the case and the official explanation of supernatural killings seem to imply that a Siren is involved. With the Calypso Twins and Maya dead, and Lilith’s fate unknown, there are some interesting opportunities for Gearbox when it comes to this DLC content’s big reveal. While it is possible that the murder mysteries are just a straightforward ghost story, they could be so much more. Further, with these missions supposedly having a connection to Borderlands 3’s main story, there is plenty of potential in this new batch of quests — and a Siren’s involvement is the most exciting and logical twist possible.

Borderlands 3 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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