Borderlands 2
A new group of Vault Hunters faces Handsome Jack on Pandora.
Dave Monk from Seattle, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Borderlands 2 is a 2012 action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. Set on the planet Pandora five years after the events of Borderlands (2009), the game follows a new group of Vault Hunters who ally with the Crimson Raiders to defeat the tyrannical Handsome Jack before he unlocks the power of a new Vault. Notable for its procedurally generated loot system, cel-shaded visuals, and cooperative gameplay, the game became 2K's most successful release and has been cited as one of the greatest video games of all time.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Borderlands 2
- Publisher
- 2K
- Director
- Paul Hellquist
- Producer
- Sean Reardon · Matt Charles
- Designer
- John Hemingway
- Programmer
- Steven Jones
- Artist
- Jeramy Cooke
- Writer
- Anthony Burch
- Composer
- Jesper Kyd · Sascha Dikiciyan · Cris Velasco · Raison Varner
- Series
- Borderlands
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3 · Microsoft Windows · Xbox 360 · OS X · PlayStation Vita · Linux · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Android · (Nvidia Shield Tablet and Nvidia Shield TV) · Nintendo Switch
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Borderlands 2 takes place five years after the original Borderlands, when four Vault Hunters—Roland, Mordecai, Lilith, and Brick—opened an ancient Vault and confronted an alien abomination called The Destroyer. After its defeat, a valuable mineral called Eridium began flourishing through Pandora's crust. Handsome Jack, CEO of the Hyperion Corporation, secures this resource and rules Pandora from his space station Helios, while rumors of an even larger Vault draw a new group of Vault Hunters.
The game features four playable characters in the base game: Axton the Commando, who can summon a turret; Maya the Siren, who can phaselock enemies; Zer0 the Assassin, who can become invisible and spawn a decoy; and Salvador the Gunzerker, who can dual-wield weapons. Two additional characters were released as downloadable content: Gaige the Mechromancer and Krieg the Psycho. The original game's four Vault Hunters return as non-player characters, along with other returning NPCs such as the Guardian Angel, Claptrap, Scooter, Dr. Zed, Marcus, Mad Moxxi, Crazy Earl, and Patricia Tannis. New NPCs include the cyborg hunter Sir Hammerlock.
The game's script, written by Anthony Burch, is seven times longer than that of the original game. Handsome Jack, the central antagonist, was created to be a charismatic 'douche' that mirrors Burch's own personality. The game adopted a 'concept art style' with graphics inspired by both photorealistic imagery and comic-book-inspired visuals.
Reader's Guide
Borderlands 2 received generally positive reviews upon release, with critics praising its visuals, writing, gameplay, online multiplayer, and variety of guns, while criticizing its mission design and content fillers. The game shipped more than 20 million units and became 2K's most successful release. It was nominated for multiple year-end awards by several gaming publications. Gearbox supported the game with four add-on campaigns, new characters, and five content packs. The handheld and virtual reality versions were regarded as inferior to the console and PC versions. The game was followed by Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel in October 2014, Borderlands 3 in September 2019, and Borderlands 4 in September 2025. Since its release, it has been cited as one of the greatest video games of all time.
Did You Know?
- The game's script is seven times longer than that of the original Borderlands.
- Handsome Jack was created to be a charismatic 'douche' mirroring writer Anthony Burch's own personality.
- The game features a 'Badass Rank' system that awards tokens for completing challenges, which can increase base stats.
- Borderlands 2 was released for PlayStation VR in December 2018 and for Windows VR in October 2020.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Borderlands 2?
Borderlands 2 is a 2012 action role-playing shooter developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K, set on the planet Pandora five years after the original game. Players take on the role of a new squad of Vault Hunters in a cel-shaded, loot-heavy world built for solo or cooperative play.
Who is Handsome Jack?
Handsome Jack is the primary villain of Borderlands 2, a charismatic and ruthless leader who controls Pandora under the banner of the Hyperion corporation. He serves as the final boss the Vault Hunters must overcome to stop him from seizing a new Vault's power.
What playable classes does Borderlands 2 offer?
The base game provides four classes—Gunner, Siren, Mechromancer, and Mad Maggie—each with its own skill tree and combat identity. Additional character options and skill paths were introduced through post-launch DLC packs.
How does the Borderlands 2 story conclude?
The Vault Hunters, backed by the Crimson Raiders, defeat Handsome Jack in a final confrontation and he is killed. The new Vault then opens, showering the team with legendary weapons, and the game ends on a triumphant note for the group.
Why is Borderlands 2 considered a landmark title?
Shipping more than 20 million units, it became 2K's best-selling release and is regularly cited as one of the greatest video games of all time. Its mix of procedural loot, dark comedic writing, and seamless four-player co-op helped define the looter-shooter subgenre for the rest of the decade.
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