At long last, Gearbox Software and 2K Games confirmed the existence of the long-rumored Borderlands spinoff, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, during a world premiere Summer Game Fest 2021 trailer. Rumors and speculation first began making the rounds earlier this year, prompting Gearbox Co-Founder and CEO Randy Pitchford to note that the studio did indeed have new Borderlands title in development.
Interestingly, the official title circulated earlier this week, thanks in large part to some digging through code on a Gearbox and 2K-owned website. The code revealed the Wonderlands title, effectively corroborating rumors that a mysterious Tiny Tina's Wonderlands adventure would place the Ashly Burch-voiced character center stage. And it's clear that Burch won't serve as the only name of note attached to Gearbox's latest outing.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands served as the first world premiere trailer during Summer Game Fest. A fantasy title marking a big departure from the looter-shooter series, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is scheduled to hit stores sometime in early 2022. The trailer that accompanied the news didn't offer much in the way of concrete details, but the voice cast did receive some of the spotlight. In addition to Ashly Burch reprising her role as Tiny Tina, the likes of Andy Samberg, Wanda Sykes, and Will Arnett are on board for mysterious parts, as well. Check out the reveal trailer below:
Ashly Burch spoke with Keighley briefly after the world premiere, revealing that Wonderlands represents a "high-fantasy take on a looter-shooter." Inspired by the Assault on Dragon's Keep Borderlands 2 DLC, Wonderlands takes shape as a standalone experience that Borderlands fans and newcomers should all be able to enjoy. The differences between the spinoff and its mainline predecessors include features such as spellcasting and character customization. In terms of Tiny Tina's overarching role, Burch said the character will assume the title of "Bunker Master," someone who guides the narrative forward as players attempt to defeat the enigmatic Dragon Lord.
Of course, there's still plenty of questions to be answered about Tiny Tina's Wonderlands; fortunately, fans may receive answers later this week. Notably, Gearbox will host its E3 2021 press conference on Saturday, June 12 at 2:00 pm PT. Apart from a potential showing of the Tiny Tina-led adventure, there's no telling what else the studio may have in store.
Summer Game Fest kicked off today, June 10, with a digital event hosted by Geoff Keighley. The showcase featured musical performances, world premieres, and brief interviews with developers and special guests. In addition to Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, the event also let loose first details about the Death Stranding Director's Cut, Jurassic World Evolution 2, and Payday 3.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands launches on an unspecified date in early 2022.