Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands has an interesting place in the Borderlands timeline. Set shortly after the events of Borderlands 2, it is essentially a prequel to Borderlands 3, though a gap of several years exists between the two games. As such, it will be hard for the spin-off to fill many Borderlands 3 plot holes, though it would certainly be nice to see it try. While fans may not be expecting it to offer many teasers for what will happen in Borderlands 4, either, there is a reason to hold onto the hope that it will.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands may be a prequel, and one set in Tina’s fictional world, but that does not mean the game will provide nothing in terms of serious lore. Much like Assault on Dragon Keep was bookended with cutscenes set outside of the Bunkers and Badasses campaign, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands could feature some present day cinematics. The game could open with an adult Tina looking back at her younger years, and after the story is finished and the credits roll, players could get a major hint about where Borderlands 4 will be taking her. While this would be taking a page from the MCU's book, that would hardly be a bad thing.
RELATED: Borderlands Fan Shows Off Incredible Tiny Tina Cosplay
There are several things that the Marvel Cinematic Universe does well, ranging from casting and continuity to character dynamics and visual effects. While plenty of things have been integral to the franchise’s success, one great trick that nearly all the Marvel films have employed is the post credits scene. Ever since Nick Fury recruited Iron Man for the Avengers Initiative, MCU fans have known to stay in the theater until the credits have reached an end.
While some of the post credits scenes are jokes, most do a lot of legwork when it comes to setting up a future MCU project. Not only do the scenes make the movies feel more connected, but they reward fans who have kept up with the series while also letting them know why they should stick around for whatever is coming next. The MCU has managed to make post credits scenes work in prequels, too. For instance, Captain Marvel was set decades before Avengers: Infinity War, but it was properly connected to that film through a post credits scene set after Thanos' snap. With this strategy working so well in the MCU, Borderlands should take note.
Right now, it remains to be seen why Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ story is being told. While it will undoubtedly be a lot of fun to have Tina as a dungeon master again, Assault on Dragon Keep’s narrative was a meaningful part of her story. No matter the reason, it will likely feel disconnected and strange for casual fans who just got used to the older Tina in Borderlands 3. Likewise, those who only started with the third Borderlands game will only know the older Tina. As such, Gearbox should make it clear that the game is a prequel in its opening scene, while further connecting it to the greater Borderlands universe via a post credits scene.
As for what a post credits scene could entail, there is no shortage of possibilities. While a playable Tina is unlikely in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, it could happen in the fourth Borderlands game. After all, she is an adult in the present day portion of the story now, and it is easy to imagine an explosive-based skill tree for her. A post credits scene could tease this, showing her alongside Ava and two other Vault Hunters as they go off to find Lilith. With the hunt for Lilith set up to be the main plot of Borderlands 4 via the Director’s Cut DLC, it makes sense to tease it further via a post credits scene.
No matter how it is done, though, setting up Borderlands 4’s plot via an after credits sequence just makes sense. Not only has the trend carried over to other movies outside of the MCU, but post credits scenes in games have been made popular through games like God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man. With the Borderlands universe only growing larger as more characters are introduced, it makes sense to use every possible opportunity to tell more of the story. A post credits scene could keep fans theorizing about the franchise until Borderlands 4 is properly revealed, too. With no shortage of storylines to tease, as Zer0’s origins and The Watcher’s War are also on the table, an after credits sequence could be thrilling.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is planned to release in early 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE: Tiny Tina's Wonderlands and The Pre-Sequel Have an Interesting Similarity
