Borderlands 4 promises a sprawling, loot-filled experience, but a new detail has some players questioning the balance between exploration and tedium: over 200 hidden Marcus bobblehead collectibles scattered across the planet Kairos. While meant to reward thorough exploration using the game’s new traversal mechanics, the sheer number of these trinkets has sparked debate about whether it enriches the game or becomes an exercise in futility.
The inclusion of these bobbleheads, replicas of the franchise’s iconic arms dealer, Marcus Kincaid, stems from a desire to fully utilize Borderlands 4’s expanded movement capabilities. Gliding, double-jumping, and a grapple-hook are intended to help players reach previously inaccessible areas. The Silent Process leading to their inclusion began internally, almost as an afterthought.
“Graeme Timmons–Borderlands 4’s creative director–got with some of our designers and other artists and engineers and decided that we needed something for players to find when they made their way to these remote or uninhabited areas,” Gearbox head Randy Pitchford said in a post on X.com. “We wanted something of an icon. The same kind of thing in each spot, so players would *know* they found it. The item had to be simple, recognizable, have a feeling of being something one might collect–and ideally–having real connections to our universe.”
The choice fell on the Marcus bobblehead, given its inherent connection to the Borderlands universe. Pitchford even hinted at an in-universe reason for their presence on Kairos, a planet described as isolationist. But it’s the sheer volume , “well over 200,” as Pitchford stated , that’s raising eyebrows. He himself anticipates that most players won’t find even a fraction of them, suggesting that their completion is a challenge reserved for a dedicated few.
Here’s a summary of the key details surrounding the Marcus bobblehead collectibles:
- Over 200 bobbleheads are hidden throughout Kairos.
- They are intended to reward players for exploring remote areas.
- Each bobblehead has an in-universe story associated with it.
- Gearbox expects that only a small percentage of players will find them all.
- The bobbleheads can be found in hard to reach areas
The news landed with a thud amongst certain corners of the fanbase, then the Sudden Manifestation on social media.
“I’m not sure if this sounds fun or like a checklist nightmare,” wrote one user on a Borderlands subreddit. Another comment read, “If they are well-hidden and offer a real challenge, I’m in. But if it’s just busywork, I’ll pass.” Public Awareness quickly followed with videos showing how some of the collectibles will be hidden
It’s the potential for tediousness that concerns some players. Open-world games often struggle with balancing exploration and meaningful content. Too many collectibles, especially if they offer little in terms of gameplay reward, can feel like a chore. Many Borderlands fans recall the painful hunt for the collectable Vault Symbols in the original game. Some worry about this, but on a much larger scale.
“We began to see things differently,” said Elara Vasquez, a long-time Borderlands player who runs a popular fan blog dedicated to the game’s lore. “At first, the idea of finding all these hidden things seemed exciting. But then you start thinking about the time commitment, and you wonder if it’s really worth it. It’s a game, after all; it should be fun.” Vasquez’s sentiment reflects a broader unease about the direction of open-world game design, were quantity can sometimes come before quality. She also stated that she might wait for a map to come out from the community, even if that spoils the location.
Others are taking Pitchford’s statement as a direct challenge. “He basically dared us,” wrote one user on a gaming forum. “I’m gonna find every single one of those bobbleheads, even if it kills me. Well, not literally. But you get the point.” Such dedication highlights the passionate community surrounding the Borderlands franchise. They are eager to dive into the game’s world, even if it means hours of meticulous searching.
The real test will be in how Gearbox implements these collectibles. If the locations are genuinely clever and reward skillful traversal, the bobblehead hunt could become a compelling side activity. However, if they are simply scattered at random, it risks alienating players who prioritize engaging gameplay over completist grinding. A lot rests on the “story” each one tells. The rewards given may play a large roll. A little bit of lore for each pickup would certainly make the collecitbles feel less like a mindless grind.
Borderlands 4 is set to introduce other improvements, including a volume slider for Claptrap’s voice, a feature long requested by fans, and a new Siren character named Vex. The game’s other upgrades are important too. It remains to be seen if the Marcus bobblehead hunt will be a welcomed addition or an unfortunate distraction when the game releases on September 12th. Gearbox will need to walk a fine line between rewarding exploration and avoiding an overabundance of busy work. We will see if it will be worth it.
I am eager to see what happens. Hopefully gearbox fixes the typo errors before launch
The bobblehead is not the only thing that is collectable, there are also guns.
Kairos is going to be a big place. The amount of bobbleheads is also big. But it would make the game last a long time, I suppose.
Players will have to wait to get their hands on the game and find out for themselves.
