Ever since the release of Borderlands 3, fans have been clear about their dislike of Ava. This young character was first introduced in the latest game, but Ava's attitude and the way she is presented has not been well-received by many Borderlands fans. The problem about Ava not clicking with the audience is that she is most likely going to be a returning character, which could actually be a negative feature for some enthusiasts.
Ava was not a fan-favorite character from the get-go. She is introduced as Maya's apprentice who wishes to become a vault hunter as well, but there isn't much about Ava that makes her an interesting character that players can root for. However, the main problem came with Maya's death. Not only was Ava responsible for it, but she was not willing to accept the blame, and was even bratty about the incident. Given how Maya was a fan favorite, Ava was in for a rough start as one of Borderlands 3's newly introduced characters.
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Once Gearbox realized Ava was not well received, there were some clear efforts to make her look better. The Director's Cut DLC included a deleted scene in which Ava has a more humane reaction to Maya's death. After the release of the animation, many fans wondered why the scene was left out of Borderlands 3, as it completely changes the way Ava is perceived.
Aside from the deleted scenes, there were some additional quests in the Director's Cut DLC featuring Ava that also helped players feel more connected with the character. While the "Mysteriouslier" series is not too related to the rest of the game's narrative, the side quests are a good way for players to interact with Ava again. Together with the cut scene in the DLC, the Murder Mysteries seem to be a way for fans to make peace with the young Siren.
However, Gearbox's effort might not have been enough to make all players forgive Ava. Not every player checked out the DLC, meaning that the overall perception of Ava could be mostly the same. Nevertheless, there are still good reasons to give Ava another chance in the upcoming games, possibly giving her more protagonism.
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As little information as there is about Borderlands 4, it is likely that Ava will make an appearance. Furthermore, Ava could even be the next playable Siren. So far, it seems like the only reason to not make Ava the next playable Siren is the impression she made among fans. Of course, that should not be taken lightly, as it could affect the game's sales. However, there is a huge opportunity for Gearbox to make a more flattering marketing campaign for Ava.
Even though Ava is not one of the most beloved characters in the franchise, there are much more pros than cons for making Ava a playable character. Ava's personal story gained a lot of complexity after Maya's death in Borderlands 3, meaning she could be set up for an interesting arc – possibly one of the best in the franchise. If done correctly, it could make Ava more relatable in the long run, which could benefit the Borderlands narrative going forward.
Furthermore, it has been established that Sirens play an important role in the Borderlands universe. Because of this, it is unlikely that Gearbox will decide to brush Ava under the rug now that she is part of this group. By making Ava a playable character, fans could feel like they are contributing to Ava's growth while also feeling more immersed in the game's lore.
Borderlands 3 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.