Borderlands 3 received significant praise for its post-launch content, and for good reason. Each of its expansions were strong but incredibly varied. Players visited to a flashy casino in Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, battled some Lovecraft-inspired threats in Guns, Love, and Tentacles, and clashed with Butcher Rose in the western-inspired Bounty of Blood. The final major expansion looked into the mind of Krieg, a beloved DLC character from Borderlands 2 with a unique personality.
While Psycho Krieg and The Fantastic Fustercluck has a hilarious name and a funny moments, such as a sequence where players shoot down the moon, it is a largely somber experience. Borderlands 3 fans get to see Krieg’s grief over losing Maya and the torture he endured firsthand, something that was only able to be achieved thanks to Tannis’ unique tech. While details on this technology are kept vague, the fact that it exists ensures that future expansions could see players examining various characters’ psyches.
The Potential For More Krieg-Like Borderlands DLC
One of Borderlands’ best aspects is its characters, meaning Gearbox should not waste the opportunity to further explore the minds of its most beloved figures. The sky is the limit when it comes to such expansions, as Krieg is far from the only Borderlands character that would provide and interesting playground for those entering their minds. In fact, it is easy to imagine the approach working for a vast majority of Borderlands characters.
Tannis herself would be an excellent option, as players would get to see the true emotions of a character that rarely feels anything. Players can get to see what she went through prior to the events of the original Borderlands, as thus far players have only heard the events play out through ECHO logs in the first game. The pressure she feels regarding her new Siren powers, her feelings for Typhon DeLeon, and her deep knowledge on Sirens could manifest some interesting scenarios if players entered her mind.
Claptrap would be another possibility, as one of the very best Borderlands expansions saw gamers entering the robots mind. A proper sequel to Claptastic Voyage could be a blast, as many would surely love the opportunity to experience another Claptrap-focused DLC offering. Sticking with the robot theme, entering Gortys’ mind could be plenty of fun, as the cheerful robot would surely provide some areas filled with meadows and upbeat characters.
Just about any character could provide some funny DLCs with a Krieg-like approach, as most have their own special quirks. The obsession Mad Moxxi has with innuendos would surely lead to a sultry setting, while Mordecai’s love for birds could lead to an area full of massive, winged creatures. Ellie’s mind would lead to an area full of Outrunners and other Borderlands vehicles, while entering the brain of Rhys could force players to make dialogue choices in ever mission as a nod to the Telltale style.
Like Krieg’s expansion, though, these DLCs could be more than just a source of jokes. They could be a way to provide answers on the creation of Zer0 and FL4K, recap where Lilith went after Borderlands 3 ended, or add depth to controversial figures like Ava. While Tannis’ brain examination tech could have easily been a one-time plot device to give Gearbox a way to throw players into Krieg’s mind, it also has the potential to provide gamers with more character-focused stories as the series progresses.
Borderlands 3 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.