Tales from the Borderlands Returning for Sequel Without Telltale
During its PAX East 2022 presentation, Gearbox Software announced a new Tales from the Borderlands sequel, though Telltale Games will did not helm the project. Gearbox originally partnered with Telltale Games to produce the first Tales from the Borderlands adventure, which predominantly featured characters who weren't previously introduced in the mainline series.
The Telltale-led experience launched episodically across five parts between fall 2014 and fall 2015, each episode offering a story-driven comedy-adventure unlike anything else in the Borderlands franchise. Critics and players alike shouted the title's praises from the rooftops and were eager to see where protagonists Rhys and Fiona would venture next. However, Telltale's shuttering in late 2018 put such hopes and dreams on pause. And while another version of the studio later resurfaced thanks to investments from LCG Entertainment, projects like Tales from the Borderlands failed to receive mention in terms of the team's future development plans. But it seems Tales from the Borderlands' 2021 Nintendo Switch release marked only the beginning of the spinoff series' return.
Developer Gearbox recently surprised PAX East 2022 attendees by unveiling a much-coveted sequel to Tales from the Borderlands. The new entry will launch on an unspecified date this year, with Gearbox serving as developer and 2K Games on board to publish. According to a post from the studio's Twitter account, fans can expect the next Tales installment to feature completely new characters and a fresh narrative. In a video of the announcement shared by Twitter user JayShockblast, Gearbox Entertainment President Randy Pitchford confirms the studio is producing the sequel in-house, suggesting the first game's development team - Telltale Games - will take no part in the upcoming release. The official reveal reads as follows:
Evidently, Gearbox Software is not yet ready to share specifics about the new project, including whether or not any of the original title's Telltale Games scribes were brought in to assist. But an announcement and 2022 release window has proven more than enough to excite fans who've long awaited Tales from the Borderlands' return. And since Gearbox seems confident in its launch plans for the year, reason suggests more information will surface sooner rather than later.
Should the new Tales from the Borderlands actually launch as planned, it will serve as the second Borderlands spinoff to hit store shelves this calendar year. The first launched several weeks ago in the form of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, an action-packed shooter with a Dungeons & Dragons twist. Needless to say, given the many years that separated the mainline franchise's second and third entries, it's neat to see Borderlands receiving new content left and right.
Tales from the Borderlands' sequel launches in 2022.
Source: Gearbox, JayShockblast/Twitter