Is it a new Borderlands? Take-Two hints at huge new game in 2018

By Gabe Gurwin May 24, 2017

Borderlands 3 Unreal Engine 4 Tech Demo - GDC 2017

2018 is shaping up to big quite the year for Take-Two. In the spring, Rockstar’s parent company will be releasing Red Dead Redemption 2 — one of the most-anticipated games of all time — but the publisher also has another big-name project in the works from an established franchise.

During an investor call, Take-Two revealed that during fiscal year 2019, which begins next April, it will release “a highly-anticipated new title from one of 2K’s biggest franchises.”

The options for what this game could be are fairly limited. The Mafia series just saw a recent release with October’s Mafia III, and XCOM 2 released last year, as well. With Rockstar hard at work on Red Dead Redemption 2, the most likely remaining option is Borderlands 3, which has still technically not been announced by developer Gearbox Software.

Though not officially unveiled, Gearbox has given fans a taste of what to expect. A tech demonstration during GDC showed off the Borderlands series’ signature engine running with upgrades made possible by current-generation hardware. This led to thicker outlines on certain objects in the world, new lighting effects, and shadows that will look more realistic.

Other hints also point to the game’s location possibly being “Promethea,” which was spotted in recent Battleborn downloadable content, but the only other information we have on Borderlands 3 is where we won’t be able to play it: the Nintendo Switch. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford said that Nintendo had “other priorities” and that it was unlikely the game would release on the platform.

Borderlands 3 is certainly the most likely option, but there is also the possibility, as pointed out by users on the forum NeoGAF, that the game could be a BioShock sequel. Director Ken Levine has since moved onto other projects, but 2K Marin was given the reigns to the franchise after the release of BioShock Infinite. Would you be more interested in exploring more of the BioShock universe, or are you ready to dive back into Borderlands? Let us know in the comments!

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

Gaming

Five more 2K Games titles that need to come to Nintendo Switch

five more 2k games nintendo switch tales from the borderlands rhys action 1

Later this month, the Nintendo Switch's game line-up is going to get even better, thanks to the releases of 2K Games gems BioShock: The Collection, Borderlands Legendary Collection, and XCOM 2 Collection. You might be familiar with 2K as a sports game publisher, but the company is so much more than that. In its portfolio is a diverse lineup of games -- some that are trapped on older hardware.

What better way for them to get a second life than to be re-released (and possibly remastered) for the Nintendo Switch? Considering the platform has sold extremely well, it's clear that porting older games to it can be a smart business move, as well as a way to gauge interest in a possible followup. Just look at the success of DOOM (2016), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and L.A. Noire -- all games that got an extra boost in sales due to their re-releases on Nintendo Switch. In this list, we'll go through another handful of 2K-published games that should most definitely get a second life on the handheld hybrid.
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

Gaming

WWE 2K21 canceled after disappointing WWE 2K20; 2K Games teases new project

most disappointing games of 2019 wwe 2k20

WWE confirmed that this year's entry into the WWE 2K series, WWE 2K21, has been canceled, though developer 2K Games teased a new project with the wrestling entertainment company.

WWE 2K games have been released annually since 2000, back when THQ Games was still the publisher before its dissolution in 2013. Take-Two Interactive acquired the rights to the series, with WWE 2K14 as the first game released under its brand.

Gaming

What we want to see from 2K Games’ new NFL game in 2021

nfl 2k5 2k games

Fans will soon have another football offering to choose from as 2K Games once again partners with the National Football League. The game publisher's newly announced deal with the NFL is to produce multiple titles. The first of these games will be released in 2021, so players won't have to wait long. However, this won’t be a return of where the company left off in 2005 with NFL 2K5. As the official announcement points out, the multi-year deal is specifically for “non-simulation” titles, which means that 2K won’t directly compete with Electronic Arts' Madden series for now.

To clear up any confusion, EA issued a statement stating that its licensing deal is still in effect. The company confirmed that it is still the "exclusive publisher of NFL simulation games," as it has for the past 15 years. It also states that the partnership has always allowed for the development of non-simulation titles by other studios.