Video

Screenshots

These shots are most likely not actually in-game and are more artist concepts, but give you a general idea the direction things are currently heading.

Gameplay

• Co-op returns for up to 4 players
• Some classes/abilities allow for dual wielding
• Skill Tree remains 3 branches
• New pickups include temporary buffs
• Game saves stored in a cloud (PC only?)
• You can go online with 2-player splitscreen
• Class Mods and Artifacts are returning

Eridium

• New element “Eridium” augments other element’s powers
• Eridium is also a currency used to buy the most powerful weapons
• Eridium also can be used as in-battle temporary buffs
• Enemies can use their own Eridium, but it can be shot out of their hands before use

Enemies

• Improved AI and cover usage
• Badass Fire Skags can engulf pups with their flames, giving a buff and fire resistance
• New Druid enemy uses shield and deflects projectiles back at player.
• Druids can heal each other in groups, at the cost of their deflector shield
• New “Bullymong” is a 4-armed ape that climbs structures and throws scenery as projectiles

Vehicles

• All vehicles will have room for 4
• More variety, including one called “Bandit Technical”
• Vehicles can powerslide
• More precise hit detection

Class Mods/Artifacts

• Both are returning with same purposes
• Class Mods are similar, but new wider customization options
• Artifacts will offer massive variety of abilities
• Possible Artifact ability: Giving vehicle health boost aura
• Possible Artifact ability: % chance for shots to not deplete ammo

Classes

Only one class has been confirmed, Salvador the “Gunzerker”

Gunzerker

• Can dual wield any gun for short period of time
• This is the character from the GI cover (and header on 87bazillion.com)
• New Ability: Fire rate increases as trigger is held down
• New Ability: Increased accuracy with same class weapon dual wielding
• New Ability: Double Damage with mixed class weapon dual wielding
• Will have Brick’s powerful Melee capability

Manufacturers

• 8 Manufacturers have been revealed, including 1 new one (Bandit)
• Manufacturers have much greater influence on the behavior of the gun
• S&S, Atlas, and Eridians have not been confirmed as returning, all other gun manufacturers have
• Manufacturers will have much more impact on the visual design of guns
• Weapons can have custom decals and enhancements
• Weapon’s quality can be identified “at a glance” through new material system

Bandit

• New manufacturer features guns made by the bandits of Pandora (the guys from the cover of BL1)
• Ramshackle guns are pieced together bootleg style
• Might have glass bottle instead of scope
• Might have screw instead of ironsight
• Largest Magazines
• Large Magazine = Slow Reload Time

Dahl

• Familiar modern weapons (a la COD/Battlefield)

Hyperion

• Will look similar to Claptrap

Vladof

• Russian vibe with similarities to an AK-47
• All weapons will have minigun barrels as attachments
• Highest fire rate of any manufacturer

Tediore

• Can be thrown like a grenade at any time
• Ammo left in clip increases power of explosion
• “Digistruct” device automatically replaces your gun after explosion

Torgue

• Features most destructive guns
• “Biggest, loudest display of power possible”

Maliwan

• “One of the sleeker options”
• Possible futuristic

Jakobs

• Cross between old west and WW2
• High Damage Stats

Source

Story

• Takes place 5 years after Borderlands 1
• Takes place on Pandora
• New character “Handsome Jack” claims credit for original Vault Hunter’s accomplishments
• Handsome Jack buys Hyperion and appears to be the main villian
• HJ wants to rid the seedy underbelly of Pandora, including Vault Hunters
• Players start in HJ’s Arena, win the tournament, and are betrayed and left in a frozen Tundra
• Players contact the Guardian Angel from first game and are told to save Pandora
• Players will contact the original Vault Hunters who are NPCs in BL2
• Claptrap is returning, and is also fighting Hyperion

Source

• Releases Q2 2012 or later
• Setting will be on Pandora
• “All new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipment”
• “New and more diverse environments”
• “Smarter and more powerful enemies”
• “An improved mission system capable of delivering a better story”

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*UPDATE* GBX Community Manager AdamF just confirmed that Game Informer subscribers should be getting the Sept issue in the next few days, where plenty more information is sure to be revealed in the 12-page exclusive spread.

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*UPDATE* Also, recent GBX hire Anthony Burch (@reverendanthony) has confirmed that he is writing Borderlands 2.  If you’d like to get an idea for how funny and smart BL2 can be in his hands, check out the funniest gaming series on the web “Hey Ash Watcha Playin?” and watch him save the world in “Anthony Saves the World“.

Full Press Release:

2K Games and Gearbox Software Announce Borderlands™ 2 in Development

Fans can get their first glimpse of the bold evolution of the Role-Playing Shooter at Gamescom and PAX Prime 2011 this month

New York, NY – August 3, 2011 – 2K Games and Gearbox Software announced today that the sequel to the extravasplosive breakout hit, Borderlands™, is currently in development at world-renowned developer Gearbox Software. Coming to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC during Take-Two’s fiscal year 2013 beginning on April 1, 2012, Borderlands 2 is the epic sequel to the ultimate four-player Role-Playing Shooter loot fest. Combining invention and evolution, Borderlands 2 features all new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in an ambitiously crafted story. Players will reveal secrets, and escalate mysteries of the Borderlands universe as they adventure across the unexplored new areas of Pandora.

2K Games and Gearbox Software are taking this show on the road, and fans and media will be able to get their first look at the game at Gamescom 2011 from August 17 – August 21, and at PAX Prime (Booth #3417) from August 26 – August 28. Eager gamers can learn more about Borderlands 2 right now by picking up the latest issue of Game Informer Magazine, which has the worldwide exclusive cover story on the title. Readers will find many game details inside the issue, including the first reveal of one of the several new character classes being introduced in Borderlands 2.

About Borderlands

Taking the gaming world by storm, Borderlands delivered its unique flavor of humorous and lovable characters and addictive non-stop collaborative loot-hunting gameplay on an unsuspecting populace. The critically acclaimed and best-selling Role-Playing-Shooter, as well as its four downloadable expansion packs, captured the imagination and attention of single-player and cooperative gamers around the world.

Borderlands 2 is not yet rated by the ESRB.

New Information

• New guns and items in the DLC
• Patch balances game across all DLC, includes new weapons and SPECS (what does that mean?)
• No release date for patch, GBX hoping for DLC4 release (Sept 28), likely to be closer to GOTY (Oct 12)
• Avatar items are coming
• Claptrap toy coming out in October most likely
• DLC may not be last

Articles

Destructoid Hands-on

Destructoid Patch Info

IGN Article

Screenshots

Video

Gamespot

Giant Bomb

Game Trailers

G4

Perhaps the GOTY Edition Strategy Guide that surfaced last month will release along side this excellent value for anyone who hasn’t experienced Borderlands yet.

Not much information other than the above has been announced, though several sites are reporting that a huge map of Pandora will be included.  See inside for what IGN is showing as the boxart, and the official Press Release.

——————————————————————————————————————

MEDIA ADVISORY

2K Games and Gearbox Software Bring Carnage and Mayhem

to Video Game Consoles this Fall with Borderlands™ Game of the Year

New York, NY – August 30, 2010 – 2K Games and Gearbox Software announced today that the superextravasplosive, mega-hit Borderlands™ will offer a Game of the Year edition this fall. Borderlands™ Game of the Yearwill be available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for $59.99 and Windows PC for $49.99 starting October 12, 2010.

This new addition to the critically acclaimed Borderlands experience will provide fans with the ultimate outlet to lock, load and face the madness. More than 17 million unique weapons and loot empower gamers to blissfully blast their way through all of Pandora’s inhospitable environments and leave behind a bloody wasteland of indigenous monsters, zombies, Claptraps and evil corporate mercenaries. Level up with the Borderlands experience seamlessly by playing alone or with friends through extensive split-screen or online co-op integration for the most ultimate Role-Playing Shooter fun ever created.

Borderlands Game of the Year edition will come with tokens for download of the recently announced add-on pack, Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution, as well as the three previous best-selling destructive downloadable adventures – the living dead-filled The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, the ultimate video game survival of the fittest test Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot, and the utterly fantastic The Secret Armory of General Knoxx. Also included, will be a complete and comprehensive map of the Borderlands territories.

With this definitive collection, gamers will now have the perfect chance to join in and experience what millions of Borderlands fans already adore. They’ll find a highly addictive video game that calls for unleashing furious anger upon a sinister corporation’s well-armed armada and Pandora’s local inhospitable inhabitants, while searching for the secret of The Vault that is chock full of extra bonuses and add-ons.

Borderlands, rated M for Mature by the ESRB, is currently available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and PC. The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned*, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot* and The Secret Armory of General Knoxx* add-on packs are all available separately on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 for 800 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation®Network and PC for $9.99.

2K Games is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

For more information, please visit www.borderlandsthegame.com.

* Requires standalone Borderlands product in order to be played.

Borderlands PC Update 1.30 Notes

360: This update will be deployed automatically on 2/23

PS3: This update will be deployed automatically on 2/25

PC: This update will be available on 2/25

Addressed issues:

• Invalid weapons or items can no longer be loaded into the game
• Brick’s Centurion class mods now regenerate health correctly
• Brick’s Bombardier class mods now regenerate rockets correctly
• Roland’s Tactician class mods now regenerate shields correctly and display the correct bonus values
• Roland’s Rifleman class mods now apply damage increase to all machine guns
• Certain powerful legendary item names should now be displayed in the appropriate color
• Opening the bank in the Mad Moxxi DLC no longer prevents other players from moving
• Multiple copies of DLC missions can no longer be obtained
• Corrected some incorrect icons in the ammo vendor
• Fixed a crash caused by killing the final boss while zoomed in with a scope
• The “Careful, he bites” achievement should now properly unlock when playing in French
• Added icons to the server browser that indicate which DLCs the server has installed
• The server browser now displays the name of the DLC a server is playing instead of the plot mission
• Adjusted scrolling in menu options in long server lists
• Added a notification if a player attempts to continue a game saved in DLC that is no longer installed
• Fixed DLC notification dialogs that were not closing properly
• Alt-F4 no longer closes the game if it is not in focus (PC Only)
• Fixed an issue which resulted in corruption in saved games (360)
• Added support for allowing multiple user login on PS3, so that friends can play on another player’s system in splitscreen. (PS3)
• Fixed graphical distortion and crashes some PS3 users may be experiencing (PS3)
• Zombie Island achievements now unlock properly in splitscreen (360, PS3)

Balance adjustments:

• Chests in New Haven have been adjusted to contain more appropriate loot
• The duration of daze effects has been reduced to 6 seconds, and the amount by which it decreases the speed of enemies and their projectiles has been reduced
• Damage from shock elemental effects has been increased
• Repeater pistol damage has been slightly increased, accuracy slightly decreased
• Sniper Rifle critical hit bonus has been increased

• No release date yet.  ”Very Very Soon”
• 10 bucks – Standard DLC price
• The level cap has been confirmed at 61.  Turning it up by 11
• Skill points will accumulate from all 11 levels.
• Weapon Proficiencies are not raised
• You can play in first playthrough or second.
• There are 44 new missions
• There are 10 new achievements for 250 more Gamerscore.  Check them all out HERE
• There are new weapons, and a new weapon coloring called “pearlescent”
• New weapons go up to level 60
• A level 64 boss enemy “Crawmerax the Invincible” appears after you complete the main story, and has a higher pearlescent drop rate.
• People without the DLC will be able to see the new items from friends, but not use them.
• NPCs now have better, more lifelike animations.
• The DLC continues the story of Borderlands, picking up right after the ending.
• The new area is called “The Parched Fathoms” and is a dried out lake.  Dry, sandy, more of the same
• The Atlas Corporation is pissed at you, and sends the Crimson Lance after you.  Expect lots more Lance battles.
• The goal is to get to the Armory and defeat General Knoxx
• Athena is a Crimson Lance defector that helps you similar to the guardian angel
• Scooter and Marcus return, as well as Moxxi from DLC2
• There are three new vehicles, all earned through quests.
• Vehicles only work in the new DLC, you can’t take them to other areas
• One is a 4-person vehicle called “The Lancer”.  The positions are  Driver, Gunner, Mine-layer, and a “Blast Seat” to knock off close range enemies.
• A second is “The Monster” and is a “souped up version of the runner”
• Third vehicle is a racer built for speed.
• There are “20-30 new enemies”.  I figure this means 8 or 9 all with variations.
• “Lance Assasins” are one new enemy.  Fast acrobatic ninjas with swords.
• “Lance Probe” is a flying sentry enemy and poses higher threats to vehicles
• “Lance Combat Medic” new enemy can throw down healing turret to heal other enemies.
• “Lance Rocketeer” is a jetpack-equipped flying asshole.  Oh noes.
• “Lance Shock Trooper” uses shock weapons and is resistant to shock element.
• “Lance Pyro” has a flamethrower, resistant to fire element.
• All new enemies have Badass variations
• New chest variations are available
• Lance Chest is twice the size of Red Chests, and have a higher chance for the best drops
• New “Drifter” enemy looks just like a HL2 walker.  Dangerous to vehicles.
• Midgets have domesticated skags and now ride them
• Riders are two enemies in one.  Kill one, the other must be killed as well.
• “Badass Skag Rider” = Badass Skag + Badass Midget.  Run.
• “Skag Rapporee” is an Alpha Skagg with THREE midgets riding it.  Yes.
• “Devastator” enemy is a large mech.  Looks tough.
• One boss is named “Ajax”, flies on a jetpack.

Screenshots

GameTrailers Preview Videos

Giant Bomb Preview Video

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/borderlands-the-secret-preview-of-general-knoxx/1880/

Kotaku reports in an updated post via word from Randy Pitchford:

Gearbox Software says that Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot is “not just new deathmatch areas.” CEO Randy Pitchford notes “This is an ENTIRELY NEW GAME MODE.”

“Think [Halo 3] ODST’s ‘Firefight’ or Gears of War’s ‘Horde Mode.’ Cash, prizes and competition!” Pitchford said in a statement from Gearbox. “It’s like Smash TV in coop FPS, but in the Borderlands.”

Gearbox reps say the new Borderlands downloadable content “expands greatly on the possibilities of combat as well adding a ton of new rules such as vampire mode or low gravity mode…”

MTV MP Blogs reports that the harder arenas might take six hours to complete:

It’s all about this crazy Moxxi character, and she’s running these tournaments. You go in and fight waves and rounds of monsters, and then she starts changing it all up. She throws out what are called ‘Moxxi Maxims,’ these rules that dramatically change the way the game play. She’ll be like, ‘Vampire Rule!’ which makes it so that the player’s health is constantly draining, but every time you get a kill you get a whole bunch of health back. Now all the players are like, ‘Holy crap, I have to play amazingly aggressive,’ so you have to charge in before you basically bleed out. Another example, she’ll go ‘Shotgun Challenge,’ where all shotguns do bonus damage and all other guns take a penalty.”

There’s a small tournament and a big tournament. The small tournament takes probably about an hour, and most people will be able to get through that. The big tournament…one of the things people have been asking for is for something that challenges them, and that’s what the big tournament is. I think the last time I went through it, it took me six hours to get through a big tournament. You can’t save your progress, you have to do it in one sitting, but you can stop, walk away from it and come back [Ed note: You just can't turn the system off]. It’s really hardcore. To get through the big tournament, you’ll have to get some friends who are very good and you’ll all have to plan out what people are going to do and what weapons you’re bringing.”

There are also three screenshots total now, see them all below (click for larger versions)