Guest article by Patrick C. alias khromb
One of the highlights last year was when the long-awaited first trailer for Borderlands 4 was released on December 12, 2024, during the Game Awards 2024.
There was already a lot to see in the trailer and yet there is still a lot of speculation about the possible story of the fourth part and the new villain “The Timekeeper”. Further information will be provided by Gearbox early next year, but no later than May planned presentation tour expected by Randy Pitchford in Japan.
Until then, loads Randy Pitchfordthe president of Gearbox invited fans to further analyze the trailer. In an interview he said: “Our fans will look at it and analyze it frame by frame. This short sequence of first-person perspectives gives us clues about the improvements we have made in the characters’ movements.”
Challenge accepted! So what could you discover in this crazy and also fascinating trailer? Well there are a few things.
[Achtung dieser Text enthält mögliche Spoiler und bisher nicht bestätigte Thesen zur Geschichte von Borderlands 4!]
Based on the information from Borderlands 3 and the new details about Borderlands 4, some interesting connections can be made:
“The Timekeeper” is introduced as a new villain
In Borderlands 3, the Timekeeper was already mentioned in the Eridian writings left by Nyriad. In a writing called Secrets, Nyriad warned of the Timekeeper as one of the dangers the Eridians had hidden in the Vaults.
The Timekeeper, the new antagonist in Borderlands 4, is described as the scariest and most serious villain in the series yet. Unlike previous opponents like Handsome Jack or the Calypso Twins, the Timekeeper presents himself as a serious and sinister threat.
He embodies one dictatorial figurewho rules over everything from above and pursues a long-term, cruel plan. Gearbox President Randy Pitchford compares the Timekeeper to a scarier version of the Emperor from the Star Wars universe. He emphasizes that this villain is on a different level than the local concerns of Handsome Jack or the Calypso twins' lust for power.
Anthony Nicholson, Senior Project Producer, adds that the Timekeeper is extremely calculating and meticulous in his intentions. He sees the Vault Hunters as merely disruptive factors that get in the way of his carefully laid out plan. This characterization promises an antagonist who will represent a serious and threatening presence in the world of Borderlands 4.
Lilith's disappearance and Elpis
At the end of Borderlands 3, Lilith teleported the moon Elpis away to save Pandora. In Borderlands 4 we learn that Elpis has appeared in the orbit of the new planet Kairos. This appears to have destroyed the veil of invisibility that had previously kept Kairos hidden, setting the events of Borderlands 4 in motion.
Has the Timekeeper hidden and oppressed an entire planet and its population?
Based on the available information Is it possible that the Timekeeper was fooling the people of Cairo? Because the Timekeeper is described as a dictatorial ruler of Cairos who suppresses the freedom and individuality of the residents. It is shown that Kairos was previously hidden by a cloaking veil, which was destroyed by the arrival of Elpis. This suggests that the Timekeeper may have actually placed a veil around the planet to deceive and control the population.
Possible reasons for this could be:
- To maintain the isolation of the planet and keep external influences out.
- To create an artificial reality that supports his rule.
- Hide access to possible Eridian Vaults on Cairos.
- To obscure the true nature of the planet or its own origins.
The destruction of this veil by Elpis' arrival has sparked a rebellion, suggesting that the population is now realizing a new reality.
What additional, central role do the masks play in the trailer?
The Borderlands 4 trailer includes two key scenes involving a psycho mask that may play a central role.
The falling mask
The psycho mask falling through the crack may have a deeper meaning. It may symbolize a connection between the isolated world of Kairos and the rest of the Borderlands universe. The residents of Cairo may have been isolated by the Timekeeper under false pretenses. Which would fit well with the dystopian nature of the planet, as the Timekeeper is considered dictatorial ruler is described as ruling Cairos with an iron fist.
Additionally, the falling mask may represent the first clue to the residents of Cairo that there is a world beyond their isolation. This would explain why the arrival of Elpis in Cairos orbit triggers an uprising.
The crushed mask
The Timekeeper's crushing and dropping of the mask could symbolize the end of his deception.
This gesture could have several meanings:
- The end of the illusion: The Timekeeper can no longer hide his true nature and must now openly confront the population he has previously oppressed.
- Confronting Reality: With the arrival of Elpis and the breaking of the veil of invisibility, the Timekeeper is forced to face the consequences of his rule.
- Beginning of a New Conflict: The dropping of the mask signals the beginning of an open confrontation between the Timekeeper and the residents of Cairos.
- Symbolic Loss of Power: The crushed mask could represent the beginning of the crumbling of his authority as his subjects now realize the truth.
Mysterious message at the end of the Borderlands 4 trailer
At the end of the Borderlands 4 trailer, Gearbox left a mysterious message that has already been deciphered and read by fans Reddit was published.
Die decoded messages ring:
“Intruder cut me open
I died and this is just the beginning
Now my knife is suddenly red
She looked through me and into you
His hand on your neck
Tear it out from the roots
It's your turn”
“Time held is brain loss”
“You’ll like what comes with it.”
Additionally, two other short messages were decrypted:
“one two one two”
“Our name is Moon”
Could the mysterious message come from the planet itself?
Is there a possibility that Kairos is a living (violated) identity and the Timekeeper represents his interests? Based on the decrypted messages, the following theory can be considered:
The message “Invader cut me open, I died and that's just the start” could come from the perspective of the planet Cairos. If we view the planet as a living entity, this could indicate an injury or invasion that the planet has suffered.
“Now my knife is redly sudden” could metaphorically represent a backlash from the planet, possibly through the Timekeeper as its representative.
“She saw right through me and into you” could refer to a siren (Lilith) who realized the true nature of the planet.
The lines “His hand on your neck, Rip it out from the roots, It's your turn” could suggest the intentions of the Timekeeper, who is acting on behalf of the planet to regain control.
“Time kept is brain lost” fits the theme of the Timekeeper and could point to the consequences of submitting to his control.
“We are moon called” may refer to the arrival of Elpis, which has destroyed the cloak around Cairos, possibly suggesting a connection between the planet and the moon.
Finally, one thesis leads to another thesis and reveals the significance of the scenes shown in the new trailer for Borderlands 4.
What do you think about it and how did you perceive the first Borderlands 4 trailer?
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