Plot
As with previous games in the series, The Pre-Sequel will feature four playable characters, each with different classes and abilities. All four of The Pre-Sequel's protagonists were non-player characters (NPCs) in previous Borderlands games; the first of these characters is Athena, "the Gladiator", a rogue assassin of the Atlas Corporation first introduced in the Borderlands DLC campaign The Secret Armory of General Knoxx. Athena can use a temporary shield to absorb damage; this ability can be upgraded to make the shield itself into a weapon that can be thrown at enemies, and even allow it to absorb elemental damage which can in turn, be reflected back at enemies. The Hyperion engineer Wilhelm, "the Enforcer", can become increasingly augmented with technology and weaponry over the course of the game, transforming him into the more familiar cybernetic form he possessed as the first major boss in Borderlands 2. While not detailed in initial demoes, Lynchwood sheriff Nisha, "the Lawbringer" (also introduced in Borderlands 2), and Claptrap, "the Fragtrap" (the last remaining robot of its kind as of Borderlands 2) will also be playable characters.
Story
The storyline of The Pre-Sequel will focus on Handsome Jack and his attempt to escape his exile from the Hyperion moonbase, and capture it for himself. The main characters of Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap, will begin the game as henchmen of Handsome Jack. Jack himself will have "morally good intentions" at the beginning of the story, but will slowly transform into the "horrific, evil villain he is in Borderlands 2 that seems to have enjoyed cutting people's eyeballs out with a spoon." Pitchford stated that the game's plot would explore how villains "can be morally ambiguous, doing possibly bad things for the right reasons and then have that reflect what [Handsome Jack] is doing. There are several quests in the game where literally the only narrative purpose they exist for is to show you that the bad guy you're fighting is not actually a horrible person."
Gameplay
Gameplay in The Pre-Sequel will remain similar to previous installments, but with the addition of new mechanics. Two new weapon types will be introduced, including various forms of laser-based weaponry, and cryogenic weaponry which can slow down and freeze enemies, who can then be smashed using a melee attack. The lack of gravity on the moon will also have an effect on motion, causing players to jump higher but slower, and items such as loot and dead bodies to float away. Players can use O2 kits (oxygen tanks) like a jetpack to perform double jumps, hovering, and ground slamming attacks. As with other items, different types of O2 kits can provide stat bonuses, and add elemental effects to the aforementioned slam attack.
