Gearbox just dropped a new Borderlands 4 trailer that’s more than just flashy action, it’s a savage parody of the 2025 games industry, where board members literally slaughter cool ideas to save money. Yeah, it’s kinda brutal but also hilarious in a twisted way.
The trailer stars a fresh Vault Hunter named Rafa, a cyber-soldier stuck in a “Liveframe” exo-suit that holds his fragile body together. This suit is loaded with laser swords, turrets, and military-grade gadgets from Tediore. Rafa can’t survive outside the suit’s environment, which adds an extra layer of weirdness to his character.
Things take a dark turn during a demonstration of these Liveframe suits. The event turns into a bloodbath when the Tediore board decides the project costs too much. The presenter pays homage to “the living, breathing backbone of this company“, aka “savings“, before executing soldiers and reanimating their corpses with the suits. It’s a brutal roast of capitalism, no doubt. There’s an AI joke somewhere in the chaos, but it’s a bit too much to unpack.
Look, I’m not saying this trailer is a direct jab at the real-world industry layoffs, but the thematic overlap is hard to ignore. Board members killing ideas to save money? Sounds familiar, right? Honestly, Borderlands isn’t exactly known for subtle storytelling, but this trailer got me thinking more than usual. Maybe I’m just in a cynical mood this summer, but I’m hoping the full story won’t be as dumb as some expect.
So, what do you think? Is this trailer a hilarious takedown of corporate greed or just another over-the-top Borderlands moment? Either way, it’s got me curious. And hey, if they keep this dark humor going, maybe the story won’t be a total mess.
