Love him or hate him, Claptrap is making a full return in Borderlands 4. Gearbox confirmed the news in a new character spotlight, reintroducing the legendary (and hazardous) robot as a central figure in the upcoming game. Once again, he is loud, chaotic, and absolutely convinced he is the hero of the story.
This time, Claptrap even has a new title: “the last vestige of the Crimson Resistance.”
You can check out his official video here:
Why Bring Claptrap Back?
According to the devs, Claptrap’s return is part genuine love and part in-joke. One team member joked that they signed a contract that legally prevents them from ever killing Claptrap off, so here he is again.
Despite being the butt of many jokes, the team admits that Claptrap is a Borderlands icon. He is cringe, yes, but that’s his thing. His awkward charm is what makes him beloved (or at least tolerated).
Writing Claptrap: From Spreadsheets to Shenanigans
Developers explained that writing Claptrap’s dialogue is often a welcome creative escape, a break from more technical work like spreadsheets or backend systems. His lines allow the writing team to be wild, absurd, and just plain weird.
It does not matter if you love his one-liners or roll your eyes every time he speaks, Claptrap remains a consistent source of comic relief and chaos.
Don’t Worry, You Can Turn Him Down
In a moment of pure fan service (or mercy?), Gearbox confirmed that Borderlands 4 will include a dedicated Claptrap dialogue volume slider in the audio settings.
That means players who’ve had enough of his voice can turn him down, or even mute him entirely, without affecting other characters.
It is a clever way to keep Claptrap in the game without forcing him on those who’d rather explore Kairos in peace.
The dev team fully embraces Claptrap’s love-hate status. He is annoying, but intentionally so, and it is that self-aware humor that’s helped him stick around for so long. Despite this, the team made it clear: Claptrap won’t be replaced by something more “marketable.”
Because you will both laugh at him and groan every time he talks, Claptrap is Borderlands.
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