Gearbox Software and 2K’sNew Tales from the Borderlandshas driven a lot of conversation among the franchise’s fans. From unexpected character returns to potential sequels set-ups,New Tales from the Borderlandswas a bombastic and humorous return to the world ofBorderlands.Many have praised the game’s comedic elements and the addition of characters like the debonair assassin bot LOU13, but some felt the story and the overall gameplay were a little lacking.
There are still many aspects ofNew Tales from the Borderlandsto love, like the widening ofBorderlands' universe by exploring Promethea. Beyond continuing the franchise’s signature sense of humor and adding more compellinganti-heroes toBorderlands' huge roster,New Tales from the Borderlandsalso upholds the series' record of good LGBTQIA+ representation. With Lor’s surprising return,Borderlandshas demonstrated its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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Lor’s Borderlands Journey
Lor, first introduced inBorderlands 3under the name Lorelei, is a resident of Promethea who found themselves caught up in the Maliwan attack. Originally a coffee shop worker and acquaintance ofseries regular Rhys, Lor joined Atlas after the conflict started to help protect his home against the dual threats of a malignant Maliwan and the Children of the Vault, and was instrumental in driving them off. Working together with the Vault Hunters sent by Lilith, Lor is able to help defeat the usurper head of Maliwan: Katagawa Jr.
Lor returns inNew Tales from the Borderlands, set one year after these events as Promethea comes under attack once again. Returning to his origins, Lor now runs his own coffee shop and occasionally has friendly run-ins with Fran, one ofNew Tales from the Borderlands' playable protagonists. Players may have expected some crossover characters givenBorderlands 3andNew Tales from the Borderlands' shared narrative aspects, but it was still an unexpected surprise to see that Lor transitioned in the year following the mainline entry’s events.
LGBTQIA+ Representation In The Borderlands Franchise
Many games give their players the full freedom of a varied character creator,likeCyberpunk 2077andSaints Row 4. But barringTiny Tina’s Wonderlands,Borderlandsplayers aren’t able to create their own protagonists; they are instead made to choose between pre-built characters with their own designs, personalities, and backstories. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean fans are limited in who they can play as. However, theBorderlandsseries makes up for this in other ways.
In a series characterized by its entertaining chaos, it can be easy to miss some of its more interesting aspects likeBorderlands' decent representation.Borderlands 3in particular is seen by many as the most LGBTQIA-friendly installment so far, with main characters like the robotic Beastmaster FL4K identifying as non-binary. This was reflective of a member of the Gearbox team who themselves is non-binary, showing that when there is diversity in a game’s development, there can be more positive representations within the game as well.
Another playable character inBorderlands 3who upholds this positive diversity isZane Flynt, the game’s Operative. The former mercenary may appear like a loner, but this pansexual fighter has many partners dotted around various planetary systems. Pansexuality is often an overlooked or discounted area of the sexual identity spectrum, so to have a main character embrace their pan identity felt like a big step forward.
Lor’s own journey is surprisingly sensitive and thought-out for a series that’s well-known for its violent and irreverent elements. The Lor who players first meet inBorderlands 3identifies as non-binary, even though they’re starting to consider transitioning. In a sci-fi world like that ofBorderlands, this is an easy process in practice, but that doesn’t mean Lor takes this decision lightly. They recognize this is more than just adapting their body, and when players meet Lor post-transition inNew Tales from the Borderlands, it feels like a celebratory moment of self-actualization.
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Diverse Representation In Video Games
Trans and gender-nonconforming characters are few and far between in games, and if they do appear they can sometimes be mired in misconceptions and harmful stereotypes. LGBTQIA+ representation in general is something that the video game industry hasn’t traditionally gotten right, but thankfully that’s started to change in recent years. From major brands likeXbox celebrating Pride Monthto popular titles likeDestiny 2adding a trans awareness emblem andThe Outer Worldsincluding an asexual companion, steps are being taken to make sure video games are representative of their audiences and creators.
The list of video game characters who identify beyond cisgendered and straight is growing, and that’s a positive sign. Studios may still be receiving some backlash from vocal pockets of the community as a result, but this won’t stop the tide of change that continues to sweep through the industry. Many developers rightly recognize the importance of representation and diversity, likeDead by Daylight’s Behaviour Interactivewhich announced last year that it would be collaborating with GaymerX, a non-profit organization dedicated to highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices and stories. This, along with Respawn Entertainment adding the trans character Catalyst toApex Legends,shows how studios are showing up for previously underrepresented groups.
LGBTQIA+ representation shouldn’t just be the tokenistic inclusion of a few characters, andgames likeDragon Age,Destiny, andCelesteare increasingly showing how these diverse stories can be explored and enjoyed by different audiences. There may be a long way to go in some respects, but with increasing examples of industry leaders working to improve the overall diversity of games, at least the future is finally looking bright for people who haven’t always seen themselves in the games they play.
New Tales from the Borderlandsis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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