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Borderlands 4 was formally revealed throughout Gamescom opening Night time Stay this week, and whereas the teaser trailer was purely a CGI affair, followers instantly started combing by means of it for clues on what the following sport might be about. One of many extra widespread theories–via X/Twitter users JoltDude139 and UndeadMD–is that Borderlands 4 will see Handsome Jack return, because the transient flash of a Vault image within the trailer completely matches up with the one which was punched into his face by Lilith in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.
Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford has responded to that put up, and mentioned that the image is not hinting at Handsome Jack, however quite somebody “way more harmful and sinister” as a substitute.
That’s not good-looking jack. That’s one thing way more harmful and sinister
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) August 21, 2024
Ever since he first appeared in Borderlands 2, Handsome Jack has arguably been the very best antagonist within the loot-and-shoot franchise. Gamers would ultimately kill the egotistical Hyperion CEO by the top of the sport, however his legacy would reside on with extra appearances in future Borderlands adventures. Within the Pre-Sequel, gamers may play as a Jack body-double whereas serving to the true deal out, and in Borderlands 3, one of many DLC expansions was set on Jack’s orbital on line casino and noticed gamers cleansing up a significant mess that he’d left behind.
Probably the most important Handsome Jack remnant was simply the AI model of the antagonist that appeared in Tales from the Borderlands. Relying in your actions, future Atlas CEO Rhys would both maintain the EchoEye system containing Jack’s digital essence or destroy it, ending his menace for good.
As for who might be worse than Jack? That is still to be seen, though Pitchford might be making an attempt to divert consideration together with his put up. Borderlands video games have a goofy humorousness, so for all we all know, this might be an elaborate setup to introduce Actually Handsome Jack to the sequence.
Borderlands 4 will launch for PC, PS5, and Xbox Collection X|S in 2025.