Over the years, theBorderlandsseries has introduced players to a variety of extremely memorable characters. While some characters go on to make one or two cameos throughout the franchise, there is one that has permeated the series since theoriginalBorderlandsgamewas released in 2009. Steve the Bandit made his debut in a “behind the scenes” web series with Claptrap, making a lasting impression on the series' earliest fans. Little did they know at the time, Steve would go on to appear in nearly every futureBorderlandsentry and become a representative of the series in other media. After 14 years in the background,Borderlands 4can deliver Steve’s biggest role yet, by giving the bandit a role in the main narrative.
Borderlands 4has yet to be officially revealed, but that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating what its narrative may entail.Borderlands 3built upon the series' Siren lore, focusing its major moments around Lilith, Ava, Maya, and the Calypso twins. While there were certainly some narrative threads left dangling, many fans would like to seeBorderlands 4move in a new direction, specifically moving the primary focus to someone other than Lilith. One way in which it could do this is to place the focus on a new group composed of lesser longtime characters, including Steve the Bandit.
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The Legacy of Borderlands' Steve the Bandit
Steve the Bandit first appeared in Episode 1 ofClaptrap’s behind-the-scenesBorderlandsweb series, where he greets the robot with the now-classic slogan “Heyo!”, before becoming the target of Claptrap’s on-set tirade. Steve would go on to appear in nearly every DLC for the originalBorderlands, in the main game ofBorderlands 2,and as a background NPC or hidden cameo in everyBorderlandsproperty that followed. Within the lore, Steve has perhaps the craziest history of any character, as he has been a stuntman, an actor, a zombie, Moxxi’s husband, a Clan member, a karaoke singer, and mysteriously produced a miniature version of himself, called Mini-Steve.
Steve the Bandit’s popularity saw the character appear in other media as well, such asTelltale Games' Poker Night series, where he interacts with a host of characters from other properties. This includes Ash Williams fromArmy of Darkness, Sam from theSam and Maxseries, Brock Sampson fromVenture Bros., and Claptrap. When players are eliminated from the round on the title’sBorderlandslevel, Steve fires a confetti-producing rocket launcher to various effects, shouting a victorious “Heyo!”. However, when Claptrap is eliminated, Steve hesitates, before whimpering a depressed “Heyo” and shooting the robot, who chastises him for being a “drama bandit”.
Steve’s Potential Role in Borderlands 4
Despite no official announcement, rumors have circulated that Gearbox is working on a newBorderlandstitle, likelyBorderlands 4. While Steve the Bandit is likely to make an appearance in some capacity, the time is perfect for his inclusion within the main story. Despite his relegation to the background, Steve is at the center of some of theBorderlandsseries' most significant events and relationships, having seemingly traveled the cosmos alongside variousBorderlandsVault Hunters. Gearbox could easily presentBorderlands 4players with an in-universe explanation for his activity, and use this to catapult him into the spotlight.
Last year, Gearbox releasedTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, a spin-off ofBorderlands 2’sThe Assault on Dragon Keep DLC, leading some fans to believe thatBorderlands 4is still a few years away. When it releases, the title will likely pick up from where its various DLC left off. Some fans, however, hope for a fresh beginning with new main characters. Those fans hoping to see Steve the Bandit featured among them will need to wait patiently for aBorderlandssequel’s official announcement and subsequent reveals.
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