Did Borderlands 4 Just Answer the Siren Question? The New Vault Hunter Vex Raises More Lore Than She Solves

The Borderlands universe is built on a foundation of looter-shooter mayhem, but it’s the rich, unfolding lore that has kept fans captivated for over a decade. At the center of that lore are the Sirens: a group of six (or possibly seven) women with immense, mystical powers. With each new installment, Gearbox has peeled back another layer of the Siren mystery, and Borderlands 4 seems to be no exception. The reveal of the new playable Vault Hunter, Vex, the Siren, provides a tantalizing glimpse into her origins, but in doing so, it has created a new set of questions that have the community buzzing with speculation.

The latest character story trailer for Vex, titled “Purple Friday,” gave us a peek into her life before becoming a Vault Hunter. The footage shows Vex, a cynical and sarcastic retail worker, enduring the horrors of a chaotic “Mercenary’s Day” sale—a clear parallel to Black Friday. In a moment of absolute exasperation, her Siren powers seem to manifest in an explosion of purple energy and gore. This origin story, while humorous and on-brand for Borderlands, is a radical departure from what we’ve previously understood about how Siren powers are passed down.

The Old Lore vs. The New: A Contradiction?

For years, the established lore has been that Siren powers are hereditary and passed down at the moment of a Siren’s death. This was a core plot point in Borderlands 2, where Angel’s death led to the passing of her Phaseshift ability to Patricia Tannis. Similarly, Maya’s death in Borderlands 3 passed her Phaselock ability to Ava. This consistent narrative has defined the limited, and thus special, nature of the Sirens in the universe.

Vex’s origin story, however, seems to challenge this. Her powers appear to simply “manifest” in a moment of extreme stress, without any indication that a previous Siren has died and passed their abilities on to her. This has led to a major debate among fans: has Gearbox retconned a fundamental piece of its own lore, or is there a deeper, unrevealed aspect to the Sirens that the series is finally exploring? This shift leaves us with a new, central question that could have huge implications for the entire franchise:

Is it possible for a person to be a “latent” Siren, with their powers manifesting later in life under certain conditions?

Possible Answers and the Future of Siren Lore

One theory is that Vex’s powers are indeed an inheritance, but the death of the previous Siren occurred off-screen. Her power, Phaseleech (similar to Tyreen Calypso’s ability), would have been passed down after the events of Borderlands 3. But the trailer’s narrative, which strongly links the power’s manifestation to a specific, emotionally charged moment, suggests something more. It’s possible that the power of a deceased Siren can lie dormant within a new host until a specific trigger unlocks it. This would explain why Tannis didn’t get Angel’s powers until much later in her life. This theory fits neatly into the existing canon while also allowing for a more dynamic and engaging origin story for the new protagonist.

Another theory, one with even greater potential for the franchise, is that Vex’s powers are not an inherited ability but a new, previously undiscovered type of Siren power. This would go against the long-held belief that there are only six Siren abilities in existence. It could also tie into the story of the “seventh” Siren, a mystery teased in Borderlands 3 that has never been fully explained. This would allow Gearbox to introduce a brand-new ability type and completely rewrite the rules of Siren lore, opening the door for even more powerful and unique characters in future installments.

Either way, the reveal of Vex and her unique origin story has created an exciting new mystery. The Siren lore is no longer a simple, linear path of inheritance. It’s now a complex tapestry of dormant powers, sudden awakenings, and unconfirmed abilities. Borderlands 4, with its new story set on the prison planet Kairos, seems poised to not only provide an action-packed adventure but also to redefine a core element of the series’ mythology. As we get closer to the game’s release on September 12, 2025, the community will be watching closely to see if Vex’s story provides the answers we’ve been waiting for, or if it simply leaves us with more questions about the enigmatic Sirens of the Borderlands universe.