Borderlands fans, you won. Gearbox Software heard the feedback about Borderlands 4’s lack of a minimap loud and clear, and has been working behind the scenes on fixing things.
When Gearbox revealed there’d be no minimap inBorderlands 4,opting for a compass with red markers indicating enemies instead, fans were not thrilled. After playing the game last month, I got used to the minimap-less gameplay, but Gearbox was quietly working on adding something new to address concerns.
A combat radar is now an optional feature in Borderlands 4, you guys! Here’s a sneak peek at what it looks like! 29/32pic.twitter.com/kcKebRqE2r
Yesterday, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford revealed that the team has been working hard on a combat radar option for the game. The radar will sit top right on the screen, but will be off by default, so players can choose to add it to their experience if they want it. And I think that’s an excellent compromise.
When I visited Gearbox to playBorderlands 4early last month, senior project producer Anthony Nicholson defended the game’s decision not to have a minimap, but also stated that everything they do is for the fans and what players will find fun.
BL4’slack of a minimap was “more of a philosophy based on the design of the game,” Nicholsontold me on May 14, “because we want you to be able to go out and explore more.” The newDestiny 2Ghost-like ECHO-4 bot that follows you around and scans the environment is meant to replace the mini map, but the player complaints were apparently loud enough to find a middle ground.
The combat radar isn’t as detailed as a minimap in the past, and the game’s map can still be seen from a separate menu. It shows enemies in your vicinity as red dots, showing their locations nearby and indicating if they are above and below you.
Gearbox’s willingness to listen to feedback was already apparent based on what I played, but this decision only hammers that point home further. I’m looking forward to playing more whenBorderlands 4launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on Sept. 12.
