Matteris a fairly big deal for a game that hasn’t technically been announced yet. Even though the game is almost completely a mystery and nobody really knows what to expect, it’s important just by virtue of being a new game underBungie’s development.Bungiedoesn’t have a lot of IPs under its belt, especially ever since it let go ofHalo.It’s mostly just known as the studio responsible forDestinynowadays, but it wants to be more than a one-trick pony.Matteris supposedly another looter, which Bungie certainly has lots of experience with, but it’s hard to say for now how similarMatteris toDestinyotherwise.
It could be thatMatterhas a cousin in another shooter that Bungie isn’t involved with. Another loot-driven sci-fi shooter that’spopular right now isBorderlands 3,the thriving continuation of Gearbox Software’s billion dollar franchise. Based on job descriptions forMatter,Bungie’s mysterious project might actually be significantly more likeBorderlandsthanDestiny.It’ll be a very new kind of tone for Bungie, so it’s interesting to think about what direction the studio wants to go in and what other games in the genre it’ll take inspiration from. Maybe there’ll be a lot of echoes ofBorderlandsinMatter.
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Back in the Borderlands
When asking just about any looter fan to name a looter game known for its sense of humor,Borderlandsis bound to be one of the first games they come up with.Borderlandshas always distinguished itself by its irreverent humor and over the top action, making the game just as good for a laugh as for intense action. That definitely makes it a very different game fromthe more contemplativeDestiny.Each of these sci-fi stories thinks about its themes, tropes, and lore in different ways and weaves its own lore from it.
However,part of what makesBorderlandsgreatis that the sense of humor doesn’t get in the way of memorable characters. Pandora is a pretty well developed setting that Gearbox keeps managing to explore in new ways, even though many aspects of the setting aren’t meant to be taken too seriously. The franchise is willing to laugh at itself. Even after heavier moments in the story, it bounces back and lightens the mood with a particular character or questline, and it’s valuable ability to be able to strike that balance without making the game feel like it’s unsure of its tone.
Above all, though, there are obvious similarities between the gameplay mechanics that will supposedly feature inMatterand the looter-shooter style that Gearbox has built theBorderlandsbrand around.AnyBorderlandsveteran can recount memories of farming bossesand replaying quests over long hours trying to get the best equipment possible. AlthoughDestinyproves that this aspect ofBorderlandsisn’t something that Bungie needs quite as much inspiration for, it’s still an important similarity betweenBorderlandsandMatter.Even ifMatterhas a different target genre from these other looters, it’s possibly leaning heavily on the spirit of these other shooters.
What Matters About Matter
Bungie could very well be looking atBorderlandsas a spiritual sibling to its new title, and it’s certainly a worthy franchise to hold oneself up to. For one thing,Mattersounds like it’ll be all about exploring outlandish locations and taking on equally striking bosses in order to get their loot.OneMatterjob listingmakes mention of a “necromancer’s dungeon,” which could either hint at the genre or be a red herring.Mattercould readily be a sci-fi game in disguise, considering that’s Bungie’s specialty, but it could also be whimsical enough to undertake some genre-bending in the wayBorderlandshas before with itsDungeons & Dragonsthemed expansions.Other job listings hint at “memorable, whimsical characters,” which is basically the description for most Borderlands characters.
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Really, though, the genre isn’t that important if one wants to comparethe clues aboutMattertoBorderlands.It’s the aforementioned spirit of the game that will make them similar. Even if it turns outMatteris a high fantasy piece that leans on familiar medieval or mythological tropes, if it’s written in the same outrageous and eccentric style asBorderlands,the two IPs will go hand in hand. The looter genre tends to take itself fairly seriously, looking at other major entries likeDiabloandGodfall,so there’s room for another game that wants to crack a joke.
Admittedly, concretedetails aboutMatterwhen it eventually surfacesproperly could still redefine just how well it compares toBorderlands.Right now all there is to go off of is the general description of the game, which is sure to be early in development. Bungie could decide to take the game in a very different direction from the image it had at the outset. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen; it’d be a valuable experience for Bungie to make a game that likes to laugh.
The Future of Matter
Even with these seeming comparisons, one feasible outcome is that there won’t be much connection between the two franchises at all. Bungie has only committed to producing a new IP by 2025;Matteris not an urgent project. By the time it comes out, Gearbox could be focused on transitioning intoBorderlands 4or working on a different project altogether, making the comparisons less notable.
MaybeMatterandBorderlandswill end uprespecting one another at a distance, quietly exchanging inspiration but being worlds apart except for tone. It’ll probably be a long time before anything really meaningful or reliable will come out aboutMatter,and development is still likely in the early stages. The success and unique style ofBorderlandsseems like an appropriate inspiration for the game, but only time will tell if that’s relevant at all.
Borderlands 3is available for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are in development.
