Hey Vault Hunters! Welcome to the very first edition of “This Week on Kairos” - a new weekly post where we share everything happening across the world of Borderlands 4, from developer updates to community highlights and beyond.
Every Friday, we’ll be here with the latest news, fan creations, dev spotlights, helpful resources, and anything else we think you’ll want to see. Whether you're looking to catch up, dive deeper, or just see what your fellow players are up to, this is the place.
In Case You Missed It: Vault Hunter Trailers are Here
We’ve started rolling out cinematic trailers for the Vault Hunters, and if you haven’t seen them yet... where have you been?!
Catch up on the Character Shorts we’ve shared and get to know the faces you’ll be taking into the fray. And since it’s Amon’s week, keep an eye out for his story soon!
"Purple Friday" feature’s Vex's retelling of the events that set her down the path to becoming a Vault Hunter:
"YOLT" features Rafa’s retelling of how he ended up going AWOL after cutting ties with the Tediore corporation:
We've Gone Gold
Borderlands 4 is officially gold! That means the game is locked, loaded, and ready for its journey to your screen.
Borderlands for a Cause: The Hunt
We want to call out a special community initiative for good. For years, members of the Borderlands community have come together to host The Hunt, a charity streaming marathon benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To date, they’ve raised over $500,000 total to benefit children’s health by participating in scavenger hunts across the Borderlands games.
It’s always incredible to see the community mobilize during these events. The Hunt: Prepare for Mayh3m will take place from August 15-24. For more information, check out The Hunt website:
https://p4m.borderlandshunt.com/
Behind the Team: Sam Winkler, Borderlands 4 Narrative Director
Every week, we’re spotlighting one of the minds behind the mayhem. You’ll get to learn about folks from both Gearbox and 2K, and how each person who touches the game both influences and is influenced by Borderlands 4. This week, we're talking with Sam Winkler, Borderlands 4's Narrative Director (Gearbox):
Sam Winkler: Thank you for having me, it’s an honor to be part of ThWoK!
What’s the most ridiculous thing you pitched for any Borderlands game that you can’t believe made it in?
Sam Winkler: There’s a mountain of these, but the most recent would be Vex’s character short, “Purple Friday”. The moment when someone becomes a Siren is a big thing, and it was really tempting to make it some grand dramatic experience. I wrote a few versions that were more action-focused and “cool”, for lack of a better word, but I was dissatisfied because the Borderlands vibe wasn’t there. So I decided to start out with a corner of the universe that you wouldn’t normally see, something a little more mundane, and then bring the mayhem in. Sometimes the Borderlands comes to you.
Close second: Maurice, the talking velociraptor with a gambling problem.
What’s the weirdest thing on your desk that somehow helps your writing process?
Sam: I have a fidget knife. I flip it around sometimes while I’m thinking. It’s a balisong, which can look really sweet if you know how to use it, which I don’t. I’ve had it for twenty years and at this point it’s so dull I don’t know if it could cut margarine.
What part of Borderlands 4 are you most excited for players to experience? No spoilers, please!
Sam: I’m excited for everyone to find all the hidden corners of the world where the team has injected their own little details. There’s just a ton of personality everywhere – staged scenes in the environment, niche names of spaces and gear, ancient caves containing damning truths and untold sorrows. That sort of thing.
Community Creative Corner
Our community members aren’t just gamers—many of you are also artists. Whether it’s cosplay, digital art, or some yet-to-be-invented medium, we’re your biggest fans. Check out this week’s hand-picked fan creations:
flippythedog200
Mostwantedpotato404
artfullysinful
That’s it for this week—more updates, more chaos, and maybe a few surprises coming next Friday. Until then: keep your ECHOnet tuned and your loot luck high.
Happy Hunting,
The Borderlands Team
