Borderlands 4 fans theorize the return of Handsome Jack, and that could mean a decade-old plotline is coming with him

GamesAction RpgBorderlandsBorderlands 4Borderlands 4 fans theorize the return of Handsome Jack, and that could mean a decade-old plotline is coming with himWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesAction RpgBorderlandsBorderlands 4Borderlands 4 fans theorize the return of Handsome Jack, and that could mean a decade-old plotline is coming with himWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Gearbox)

Borderlands

Borderlands 4fan theories are already flying, and right at the top are two ideas that prophesize the return of a fan-favorite villain, and might see the payoff of a storyline everyone thoughtGearboxabandoned a decade ago.

Shortly after Borderlands 4 was announced duringGamescom Opening Night Liveyesterday, players started to take note of the shots at the end of the announcement trailer. It didn’t take long before those symbols were translated from the game’s ancient in-universe language, Eridian, with the best guess suggesting they read “He is watching. Break free.”

This article contains spoilers for Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.

Looks like Handsome Jack is returning for Borderlands 4. The vault symbol perfectly aligns. (Credit to @UndeadMD for the find) pic.twitter.com/j2plLNACukAugust 20, 2024

Looks like Handsome Jack is returning for Borderlands 4. The vault symbol perfectly aligns. (Credit to @UndeadMD for the find) pic.twitter.com/j2plLNACukAugust 20, 2024

Jack is killed at the end of Borderlands 2, but this is a wild sci-fi world, so there’s little preventing his potential return. However, eagle-eyed fans noticed that the villain’s return could mean another theory comes to life. The Pre-Sequel takes place on Elpis, the moon of the series' main planet, Pandora (which we already know Borderlands 4 will take us away from). Fans spotted that Elpis is the planet that appears in the trailer, while even more attentive players claim that the hand that picks up the psycho mask at the end of the trailer could be that of The Watcher, a powerful character from The Pre-Sequel.

At the end of The Pre-Sequel, The Watcher appears to warn the player that a Great War is coming, and that they’ll need to prepare for it. And then in Borderlands 3… that war is never mentioned, leading some players to believe the increased scope of that game and the sheer amount of time that had passed since The Pre-Sequel meant that teaser would never be fulfilled. Now, however, it seems that that might not be the case, and a ten-year mystery might be solved when Borderlands 4 launches next year.

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Another theory:Putting the Borderlands 4 reveal just 2 weeks after the Borderlands movie’s $90m flop is Randy Pitchford’s ultimate “big brain move.”

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Gearbox lead wants Borderlands 4 to have less “toilet humor,” says the thought of “skibidi toilet” and a gun called “Hawk 2A” in the game makes him want to “cry real tears”

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The new Borderlands 4 trailer’s hidden messages have already been decoded, leaving the community with yet another riddle

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