Despite the ongoing pandemic, Gearbox Software is making sure that Borderlands 3 is loaded with content that self-isolated players can enjoy for hours. Although the game's two April events have already been announced, the developers still have more in store for players. In a press release, Gearbox and 2K Games revealed a new game mode that is available now.
The new game mode, Borderlands Science, is a collaboration between the developer and scientific institutions like McGill University, Massively Multiplayer Online Science (MMOS), and the Microsetta Initiative at UC San Diego School of Medicine. With its debut, Borderlands 3 joins a recent trend of video games adding new educational content.
In a press release, Borderlands 3's new game mode allows players to map the human gut. Described as a "game within [the game]," Borderlands Science shows human gut microbe DNA sequences in puzzle gameplay. The press release also explained that computers struggle to analyze microbes and DNA due to how much information they must process. By lining up matching tiles in-game, players will help correct computer errors and help scientists correctly map the DNA of various microbes. Exploring the microbiome in-game will advance "vital" scientific research and allow players to earn in-game rewards. Gearbox also announced that Dr. Mayim Bialik, who starred in The Big Bang Theory, would serve as a guide and narrator for the game.
While this collaboration between Gearbox and researchers is an inventive and incredible endeavor, it's not the first of its kind. Previously, MMOS worked with EVE Online players to map human proteins. Hopefully, the results of Borderlands Science show both academia and the general public the true potential that video games hold as educational tools.
Ultimately, this exciting collaboration is a whole new thing for Borderlands 3 fans to look forward to. However, between Borderlands Science and the other events and DLC in development, hopefully, the staff at Gearbox Software is not being forced to crunch to get this content out on time. After the controversy surrounding Gearbox denying vital bonus payments, the developer must acknowledge its workers' needs, so that Borderlands Science can benefit its creators, the scientists, and the general public.
Borderlands 3 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.