Borderlands 4 Rethinks Controversial Character Acknowledging Fan Feedback

It appears that one of the most controversial characters from Borderlands 3, Ava, has been cut from Borderlands 4. This is suggested by findings from data miners who explored game files.

This information was shared by content creator and series researcher EpicNNG, known for restoring data from a closed Chinese MMO related to Borderlands. According to him, he found mentions of Ava and her Siren abilities within the files of Borderlands 4. There are also lines indicating her support of Zane, one of the heroes from Borderlands 3.

However, it seems that these elements have been replaced in the current version of the game. Instead of Ava, Amara now appears in the storyline, along with Hermes, Ava’s pet from Borderlands 3, near the wreck of the «Sanctuary» ship from the same game. This suggests that the character was entirely supplanted by another figure.

At this point, the data found is the only evidence that Ava was ever intended for the new installment. No character models, voice lines, or scenes featuring her have been discovered.

If the character was, in fact, part of an earlier version of Borderlands 4, this would indicate a significant shift in development direction. Gearbox’s head, Randy Pitchford, showed interest in fan sentiment about Ava a year ago, receiving a mixed response that ranged from annoyance to openness about giving her a second chance.

It seems Gearbox is attentive to feedback. Previously, they even added a volume slider for the robot character, allowing players to adjust the loud and chatty voice of the character to their liking.

It remains uncertain whether Ava will make an appearance in future DLCs, but based on the information from EpicNNG, her return to the game seems unlikely.

Players will not find Ava in Borderlands 4 on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5, with text translations available in Russian. The game is set to release on Nintendo Switch 2 at some point in the future.