Borderlands 2 was officially confirmed today, with Game Informer set to deliver the first details in short order. In the meantime, we've got a few hopes and dreams we hope will be addressed.

AN EVOLVED ART STYLE

While we were very astonished to see the major graphical overhaul Gearbox was able to apply to Borderlands so late in development, we're a bit dismayed to see the same style being applied to the sequel on Game Informer's cover. Given the fact that the game is coming three years after the original borderlands, we're hoping the game graduates past the gritty-cartoonish style set in the original. The promise of more varied environments in Borderlands 2 has us hoping, though.

AN UN-RUSHED PRODUCT

Gearbox has developed its own cache as a developer during this console generation, so we hope 2K  Games is allowing them to produce Borderlands 2 on a "Valve Time" schedule (IE- "It'll come out when it's done). The only time Gearbox has seemingly needed to deliver a game on a timetable has been for the resurrected-then-redelayed Duke Nukem Forever, and that didn't work out very well.  With 2K's cadre of successful IPs, Borderlands 2 shouldn't need to be pinned to a specific quarterly profit schedule.

A PLACE FOR INNOVATION

Between the unique weapon-spawning system and pulling off two gameplay types long-considered to be console Kryptonite (online RPGs and open-world FPS), Borderlands has rightfully earned accolades calling it one of the most ground-breaking games to come to consoles in years. Even though more of the same would be welcomed by most, we hope Borderlands 2 can deliver a fair amount of innovation on top of the already-awesome gameplay of the original.

GROWTH WITH THE TIMES

Given the amount of time dedicated Borderlands fans put into the game, Gearbox and 2K Games need to make sure Borderlands 2 can hang with the FPS juggernauts coming from Activision and EA. Call of Duty Elite and EA's Gun Club have allowed users to access their multiplayer shooter accounts when outside of the game, and given Borderlands' deeper online experience, there should be a way to keep tabs on your progress, statistics, and potential strategies on any device.

A WILLING AUDIENCE

Plenty of franchises have become extinct during this console generation after a single misstep. Red Faction recently gave up the ghost after Armageddon's sales failed to live up to THQ's expectations. Activision hasn't been gun-shy when it comes to executing established franchises either. In both of those cases, the games were on a downward slope in terms of commercial and critical success, so we hope that the exemplary work of Gearbox will be enough to make Borderlands a continually successful franchise. However, when push comes to shove, we know that there's really only one determining factor when it comes to keeping an IP alive - profit. Will the millions that became addicted to Borderlands be willing to revisit Pandora? Will Gearbox be able to attract a new audience to replace the non-returnees? We're not sure right now, but we're looking forward to having Borderlands 2 provide the answers.

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