The Toilet Humor Conundrum: Borderlands 4’s Narrative Director Discusses Tone

A Dial-Down on the Hilarity

As Borderlands 4 draws near, fans of the looter-shooter series are eagerly anticipating its arrival. But, aside from the excitement surrounding new guns and gameplay mechanics, a pressing question has lingered: will the toilet humor make a comeback? In a recent interview, Sam Winkler, the game’s narrative director, shed some light on the matter.

Winkler expressed his disdain for excessive toilet humor, mentioning that he’s “loathe” to see any jokes that might lead to skibidi-related chuckles. He’s hoping to dial down the frequency of such humor, recognizing that Borderlands 3 perhaps went overboard.

Winkler’s commitment to toning down toilet humor is evident in a Twitter exchange, where he replied to a question about his criticism of Borderlands 3’s humor by sharing a humorous anecdote: “I’m not gonna say there’s no toilets, but if the word skibidi ships in the game under my watch, I’m gonna cry real tears.” When another dev joked about the existence of a gun called Hawk 2A, Winkler quipped that he wanted to put his hand down the sink grinder.

Movements and Mechanics, Galore!

At The Game Awards 2024, Gearbox unveiled the first Borderlands 4 gameplay trailer, showcasing seamless world mechanics and new movement systems designed to make the game unforgettable. Creative director Graeme Timmins explained that the experience will be so revolutionary, it’ll be tough for players to go back to previous titles.

The enthusiasm surrounding Borderlands 4 extends beyond the in-game action. A terminally ill fan, courtesy of a wish granted by Gearbox, got the opportunity to play the game early. Caleb McAlpine, who thought it was “awesome,” praised the experience and thanked those responsible for making it a possibility.

Sometime Next Year, Gear Up!

Borderlands 4 is set to launch in 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, giving fans plenty to look forward to. Until then, fans can revel in the excitement surrounding its impending release.

• Target release year: 2025
• Platforms: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
• Narrative direction: A focus on refined storytelling and reduced toilet humor