Entertainment

Entertainment Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty has reacted to the ongoing controversy related to the India-Pakistan cricket match, saying that it is not fair to blame the cricketers for playing the match. He also emphasized the fact that it is an individual decision as to whether or not you want to watch the match. The actor is getting trolled for the statement, with people bringing up the actor’s son-in-law in the conversation. By: Toshani  |  Published: September 14, 2025 6:43 PM IST The India vs. Pakistan match for the Asia World Cup has been scheduled for September 14, 2025. This has created a lot of controversies, as people think that the match should be cancelled due to the tensions between the two nations after the Pahalgam terror attack. Amidst the conversation, Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty has given his opinion as well, stating that it is not right to blame the cricketers for playing. He also said that it is not in the hands of BCCI as well, and it should be an individual decision as to whether or not you want to watch the match. After the statement, the actor has been getting trolled. People are joking about K. L. Rahul, the Indian cricketer who is married to Athiya Shetty, Sunil Shetty’s daughter. What is the controversy about? This entire discourse arose following the terror attack that took place in Pahalgam in April. As a response, the Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindhoor. After the escalations in the matter, the India-Pakistan match in Dubai for the Asia World Cup will be the first formal fixture between the two nations. As a reaction to this, many people have expressed their opinions about how the match should be cancelled. Suniel Shetty’s statement Talking to the media, Sunik Shetty said, “This is a world sports organization. They must follow these rules and regulations because there are many other sports too and many players are involved. Being Indian, I feel that it is our individual choice whether we want to watch it or go or not.” He also mentioned that, “It is India’s decision to make, but you cannot hold cricketers guilty of playing because they are also players and are expected to represent the country. I feel that this is a decision all of us must make. If I do not want to watch it, then I will not watch. It is for all of you to decide what you want. It’s not in BCCI’s hands. It is a world sports organization, and you cannot blame someone.” Opposing views on the statement People have opposing opinions regarding Shetty’s statement. One user on Instagram commented, “Hope the son-in-law doesn’t get dropped,” referring to K.L. Rahul. Another person added, “K L Rahul ka sasur hai, damad ke liye kyun bolega” (he is K L Rahul’s father-in-law; why would he say [negatively] about this?). Someone also commented. “Above sportsmen, they are Indian first.” Don’t Miss Out on the Latest Updates. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today! Read More

Entertainment Kartik Aaryan had a smashing 2024, thanks to the blockbuster success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. It seemed like he might not have a release in 2025 after his untitled musical with Anurag Basu was postponed from Diwali this year to the first half of 2026. A few hours ago, however, Dharma Productions announced that Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, co-starring Ananya Panday, will arrive on the last day of the year, December 31, 2025. 5-Day Extended Weekend & Festive Fervour: Kartik Aaryan–Ananya Panday’s Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri hits the most LUCRATIVE box office window of the year Over the years, the Christmas and pre-Christmas period has proved to be huge at the box office. But New Year’s Eve can also bring in a lot of moolah, especially if it falls on the correct day of the week. And Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’s makers might have hit a jackpot by releasing their film on this coveted date. This year, December 31 falls on a Wednesday. As it’s common knowledge, there’s no holiday on the year’s last day, but after 3:00 or 4:00 pm, work gets wrapped up and people get into a celebratory mode. As a result, cinemas across the country see higher footfalls. January 1 is as good as a national holiday. In the past, films like PK (2014) earned Rs. 14.05 crores, a jump of 55% from the previous day. Dangal (2016) jumped 39% and earned Rs. 32.04 crores on the first day of 2017. Simmba (2018) went on to collect Rs. 28.19 crores, a jump of 33%. Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022) jumped a whopping 52% on January 1, 2023, and collected Rs. 17.97 crores. The business usually falls on January 2 as the holiday season gets over and the public is back to work. But in 2026, the second day of the first month falls on Friday. Hence, the collections would remain steady after which it will see a jump yet again on Saturday and Sunday. In short, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri releases in the most beneficial period of the year, with its first five days virtually functioning as an extended festive weekend. Hence, if content clicks, it has the potential to work big time at the box office. However, a few challenges remain. Alpha releases on December 25, six days before Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. This Yash Raj venture has the potential to score due to its casting (Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Bobby Deol), genre and popularity of the franchise (despite War 2’s debacle). A week before Alpha, Avatar: Fire And Ash will arrive in cinemas on December 19. Hence, there can be an issue of screen-sharing for the romcom. But with Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films and Karan Johar of Dharma, the producers of Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri being close friends, one can expect amicable division of shows, at least for these two films. Here’s hoping the trailer of the Kartik Aaryan-Ananya Panday starrer clicks and if it does, 2025 will surely end on a high. Also Read: It’s a wrap! Kartik Aaryan and Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri team conclude shooting on day 57: “Unforgettable, fun-filled, super-fast roller-coaster ride” More Pages: Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri Box Office Collection BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama. Read More

Entertainment Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has announced the title of his upcoming film, O’ Romeo. Featuring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles, the film is slated to release in theatres on February 13, 2026, which is the Valentine’s Day weekend. Sajid Nadiadwala, Vishal Bhardwaj team up for O’ Romeo starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, set to release on Valentine’s Day weekend 2026 The announcement has created considerable buzz, not just for its lead pair but also for bringing together producer Sajid Nadiadwala and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. Nadiadwala is known for his commercial successes, while Bhardwaj has built a reputation for his distinctive storytelling and cinematic approach. Their collaboration on O’ Romeo is expected to offer a mix of mainstream appeal and creative depth. Billed as an action thriller, the film will feature Shahid Kapoor in a strong, intense role. Known for taking on varied characters, Kapoor is expected to bring a new dimension to the part. Starring opposite him, Triptii Dimri will play a key role that adds both presence and depth to the story. The cast also includes veteran actor Nana Patekar, known for his strong screen presence. His addition is expected to bring more depth to the performances and character interactions. Filmed across scenic locations, O’ Romeo aims to combine striking visuals with an engaging storyline. Produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the film is slated for release in 2026 and is among the banner’s major projects. With its ensemble cast, scenic backdrops, and the collaboration of Sajid Nadiadwala and Vishal Bhardwaj, O’ Romeo is scheduled for release on Valentine’s Day 2026. Also Read : From Baaghi 2 to Baaghi 4: Sunit Morarjee proves to be the lucky mascot for Sajid Nadiadwala’s hit-running franchise More Pages: O’ Romeo Box Office Collection Tags : Bollywood, Bollywood News, February 14 2026, Instagram, Instagram India, News, O’ Romeo, Release, Sajid Nadiadwala, Shahid Kapoor, Social Media, Team Up, Triptii Dimri, Vishal Bhardwaj BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama. Read More

Entertainment Ending 2025 on a grand romantic note, Bollywood’s most loved stars, Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, come together on-screen once again, this time as Ray and Rumi in Sameer Vidwans’s Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. The much-anticipated rom-com is all set to hit theatres on 31st December 2025. Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri to release on December 31, 2025 At the heart of this love story is India’s heartthrob Kartik Aaryan as Ray, bringing his signature charm, magic and depth that have cemented his reputation as one of the current generation’s most versatile and desirable actors. Opposite him, Ananya Panday steps into the role of Rumi, continuing her upward trajectory with a performance that blends vulnerability, freshness, and a modern-day take on romance. Their chemistry, already glimpsed in early looks, has sparked widespread buzz, making their collaboration one of the most anticipated of 2025. The film is helmed by National Award-winner Sameer Vidwans, whose knack for heartfelt storytelling promises to deliver an unforgettable love story that is both visually stunning and emotionally rich. Dharma Productions & Namah Pictures present Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Shareen Mantri Kedia, Kishor Arora and Bhumika Tewari. Watch Ray and Rumi’s love story unfold on the big screen on December 31! With its release on New Year’s Eve, this family entertainer to end 2025 on a banging and heartwarming note and welcome 2026 with love. Also Read: It’s a wrap! Kartik Aaryan and Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri team conclude shooting on day 57: “Unforgettable, fun-filled, super-fast roller-coaster ride” More Pages: Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri Box Office Collection Tags : Adar Poonawalla, Ananya Panday, Apoorva Mehta, Instagram, Jackie Shorff, Karan Johar, Kartik Aaryan, Neena Gupta, News, Release Date, Remo D’souza, Sameer Vidwans, Social Media, Tu Meri Main Tera, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama. Read More

Entertainment Sony Entertainment Television is gearing up for the return of its popular reality show India’s Got Talent with a brand-new season, unveiled by Navjot Singh Sidhu. The latest campaign, titled “Jo Ajab Hai Woh Gajab Hai,” sets the tone for a celebration of unique and extraordinary talents from across the country. Navjot Singh Sidhu launches 11th season of India’s Got Talent with campaign “Jo Ajab Hai Woh Gajab Hai” In the first promo, Sidhu delivers a powerful line — “Duniya mein sabse bada rog, mere baare mein kya kahenge log.” The statement strikes at the heart of societal pressures and judgments that often hold people back, while encouraging aspiring performers to embrace their individuality and chase their dreams fearlessly. Speaking about the upcoming season, Sidhu expressed his enthusiasm: “I’m excited to see talents that are unique, creative, and bold enough to challenge the ordinary. These incredible talents will not only amaze the nation but also inspire countless others to follow their dreams!” Promising an exciting line-up of extraordinary performances and inspiring stories, India’s Got Talent is set to premiere on 4th October 2025, airing every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 PM on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV. Also Read: The Great Indian Kapil Show: Navjot Singh Sidhu returns for Season 3 of Netflix show; promises ‘double’ the laughter Tags : India’s Got Talent, Indian Television, Indian TV, Navjot Singh Sidhu, News, Promos, Reality Show, Sony Entertainment Television, Talent Show, Television, TV BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama. Read More

Entertainment Siddhant Chaturvedi has sparked fresh buzz among fans with his recent social media activity. The actor has lately been sharing glimpses of his intense workout sessions — from battling ropes to pool drills and high-octane training — but what truly caught everyone’s attention in his latest post was a coffee cup marked with the Devgn Films logo. Siddhant Chaturvedi drops a hint about his next with Devgn Films The subtle detail has set the internet abuzz with speculation that Siddhant is prepping for the much-anticipated creature thriller backed by Devgn Films, reportedly set to go on floors in October. While the project hasn’t been officially confirmed, the combination of his gruelling training and the coffee-cup tease feels like a major hint. Known for his impactful performances in Gully Boy, Gehraiyaan, and most recently Dhadak 2, Siddhant seems ready to push new boundaries with a physically demanding role. Fans are eagerly waiting for confirmation of this collaboration, which could mark another big milestone in his career. Meanwhile, the actor also has Vikas Bahl’s Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling lined up, where he stars alongside Jaya Bachchan and Wamiqa Gabbi — making this an exciting phase in his journey. Also Read: Siddhant Chaturvedi on Dhadak 2 and the struggles that shaped him; says, “I still feel like I’m just getting started” BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama. Read More

Entertainment The Bengaluru singer-songwriter talks about releasing a fan-favorite track with a tongue-in-cheek music video and heading out on tour One YouTube comment on Frizzell D’Souza‘s new song and video “My Last Cigarette” particularly stands out for the singer-songwriter. She quotes, “If this is what it feels like to quit, I’m never going to stop.” The Bengaluru-based artist laughs about how someone thought it was about smoking, and not about breaking it off with a narcissist. “Like ummm, not at all how I thought it would be interpreted,” she says. The misinterpretation is perhaps understandable given how the song has taken on a life of its own since D’Souza first performed it in Goa back in November 2022. After two years of audiences requesting the track at every show, “My Last Cigarette” has finally arrived—with a cheery sound aided by a full band and producer Aadarsh Subramaniam, complete with a music video directed by filmmaker Anurag Baruah that leans into the absurdity of toxic relationships. “I wrote [it] right as I was coming out of a really shitty situation,” D’Souza recalls. “I remember escaping to Goa to clear my head, I finished the song there and ended up performing it at a gig. The response was hilarious, because everyone found it so painfully relatable.” The track quickly became a staple of her live sets, with D’Souza arranging it with her band and watching as audiences began requesting it long before she’d even taken it to the studio. “So in a way, this release feels like closing the loop,” she explains. “The song came from such a raw, eventful time, and since people have been waiting on it for so long, I decided to go all out with a music video and tour.” Unlike her usual process of taking songs straight from bedroom demo to production, D’Souza knew “My Last Cigarette” needed something grander. The lyrics reference a marching band—“because the guy was basically a red flag parade,” she laughs—making it impossible not to pursue that big-band sound. Frizzell D’Souza. Photo: Rohit Bijoy “I’m lucky to have some stellar musicians around me, and arranging it with them was honestly one of the most fun parts of the process,” she says. The challenge, however, came with the financial realities of recording a live band. “Recording a live band at high quality is still a pretty big investment, especially in the streaming era, where the returns aren’t exactly immediate. But it felt worth it for the track and we were happy with what we achieved finally.” The song features producer Subramaniam on keys, guitarist Blesswin, drummer Jason Sharat, bassist Surya Kalyan, saxophonist Gautam David, Jason Zac on trumpet. If you go by release chronology, “My Last Cigarette” comes across as a swerve to a big sound after the lush soft-rock sound of her 2024 EP In My Asymmetry. D’Souza, however, wrote this new song before In My Asymmetry. “o in a way the EP was me experimenting more lyrically and sonically than I normally do,” she says. “‘My Last Cigarette’ still feels very intuitive to my style, but what’s different this time is the production—it’s more refined and intentional than what I might have made two years ago.” The music video, directed by filmmaker and photographer Anurag Baruah, follows a vivid story about walking out of toxic relationships and adds elements like drama, interpretive dance, and D’Souza and her band performing the song. Eagle-eyed fans might also catch a visual callback to “Diana,” her previous collaboration with Bengaluru band Derek & The Cats. “The visuals for this song went through about four sequels’ worth of ideas in my head,” D’Souza says. “Most of my music so far has been pretty introspective and melancholic, but with this one I really wanted to let loose and lean into something a bit silly.” Working with actors for the first time—Eisha Shetty playing a younger version of herself and Nishanth G. as the narcissistic ex—brought unexpected intensity to the shoot. “I remember one particularly sinister take where Nishanth was so convincing that the whole crew just froze; it felt a little too real,” she recalls. “I kept ducking out of the room to avoid getting triggered, which is funny now, but in the moment, it was intense.” The final video strikes the balance D’Souza was after, which she sums up as “playful on the outside, but still rooted in very real experiences.” 2025 has already seen D’Souza expand her horizons with her first playback experience with the song “Oru Kana (Reprise)” on the Tamil film 3BHK, collaborating with singer-composer Amrit Ramnath and actor Siddharth. “I was in the middle of a hectic week and literally scribbled the verse in an auto on the way to my producer’s studio to record,” she says of the whirlwind process. “Being trusted with a brief like that felt really reassuring, and I’d definitely be excited to do more film songs in the future.” Looking ahead, D’Souza sees her music following a similar path to “My Last Cigarette,” one that’s “old-school at heart, written and recorded with the band.” When asked about the challenges of being an independent singer-songwriter in India as of 2025, her response is tellingly brief. “Writing music has always, always been the easiest part about being an independent artist,” she says. D’Souza kicks off a country-wide tour on Sept. 16, 2025, in Pune, with stops in Mumbai on Sept. 18, New Delhi on Sept. 19, before concluding in Bengaluru on Oct. 25. The tour will also see her heading to Music Matters Singapore on Sept. 26 for a showcase performance with her band, representing India alongside Nagaland rock act Trance Effect. “Typing this out from the same bedroom in my Mangalore home where I wrote my first few songs and it just feels weird to process because, what the heck,” she shared about the Singapore showcase in an Instagram post. “But beyond all this, I’m so grateful for the people I get to do this with and

Entertainment Space Is All We Have with Shashank Bhatnagar. Photo: Courtesy of the artist Bengaluru band Space Is All We Have move well beyond their space-rock and ambient roots with “Undertow,” enlisting New Delhi throat-shredder Shashank Bhatnagar (from Bengaluru metallers Inner Sanctum) for a molten riff-fest. Part of their upcoming second album that’s slated to drop next month, Space Is All We Have offer rap, djent and nu-metal styles on “Undertow,” their first single of the year. It follows similarly heavy singles like “Broken,” featuring vocalist Munz TDT (from folk-metal band The Down Troddence). Songwriter, producer and guitarist Krishna M. Sujith (who now doubles up on guitar for rap star Hanumankind) says they were finishing up “Undertow” when they performed in New Delhi in 2024 and thought about bringing on Bhatnagar to fill in on growling duties for Munz on “Broken.” Krishna adds, “But then later it hit me that he could do a full blown feature on another song on the album itself and we decided to go ahead with ‘Undertow.’ I sent Shashank the song and he loved the idea and was more than excited to feature.” Bhatnagar, for his part, says he hadn’t heard about Space Is All We Have before, but went on Inner Sanctum drummer Ujjwal K.S.’s word about a band that the Bengaluru sticksman had counted among his peers. Bhatnagar adds, “I heard it the song and I loved it. The vocalist [Shiyasz Abdul] was a great rapper and the words were quite interesting. I was supposed to just scream here and there.” He went on to add clean vocal melodies as well over Abdul’s rap, which he says “came about randomly and sounded nice. “I like doing what the song requires and whatever comes out, it does,” Bhatnagar adds. Lyrically, Abdul notes that there’s an introspective edge to the track, but it’s “nothing profound.” He adds, “The lyrics came from a mix of anger, self-reflection, and humor—the kind of headspace everyone finds themselves in at some point. Sometimes the expectations we put on ourselves collapse, sometimes we trip over our own flaws, but underneath it all there’s still that drive to stay aware and awake, making that darkness conscious.” Like the frantic energy of the song, the band’s guitarist and composer Shashank Akella managed, conceptualized and executed the music video for “Undertow,” filming in a warehouse-type building with all the members moshing, raging and jumping along with Bhatnagar. Krishna says, “All throughout he [Akella] knew exactly what he wanted us to do and we just followed, it was exhausting by the end of the day but we had a lot of fun. The video was shot at our friends Mohan and Freeman’s workshop. Funnily, they were working there while the shoot was going on that day.” Bhatnagar recalls being called to a remote industrial block in a village with very little phone network but once things got rolling, he was in on the fun. He says, “We clicked really fast, I love all the guys. The song has grown on us like crazy, so we thought, ‘Let’s have some fun.’” Space Is All We Have’s next album—the follow-up to 2020’s Thank You, Universe!—has 11 tracks, including their recent singles from 2024 and “Undertow.” There’s also a drum and bass remix of a song, an experiment they also carried out on the first with DJ-producer Synths Back taking on their live staple “She’s From Venus.” Krishna adds, “An electronic remix is something we like to put in each of our record as we like to showcase some of the local talent outside of out soundscape on our record.” Read More

Entertainment “We need someone to scare a few of the kids. Would you mind?” asks Kelly Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne attend the Grammys on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles Amy Sussman/Getty Images The finale of Lego Masters Jr. featured a surprise posthumous cameo from the Prince of Darkness. In the episode, Kelly Osbourne welcomed her dad, Ozzy Osbourne, to deliver a spooky message to the young contestants. “Hi, Kelly,” Ozzy said, appearing onscreen. “Hi, dad,” Kelly responded “We need someone to scare a few of the kids. Would you mind?” “I’d love to,” Ozzy replied, before letting out a maniacal cackle, and as the lights flashed red, declaring: “One hour left, kids. You’ve got one hour left to finish those builds — or else!” One of the contestants then asked who Ozzy was before a different young girl explained that her “dad loves him.” Then, Ozzy disappeared after wishing the kids good luck. Ozzy’s appearance came during the final challenge of the finale episode, which saw the kids building out a Ninjago Lego set of a dragon with special effects. Will Arnett, the show’s host, typically lets the kids know about their one-hour timer, but on this occasion, Ozzy did the honors. Osbourne died on July 22 at age 76 of a heart attack after suffering from Parkinson’s disease and other health issues throughout his life. This Lego Masters appearance marks the first posthumous appearance by the singer, whose documentary, Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Last Bow, is set to hit theaters early next year. There’s also another documentary and a second memoir in the works as well. Over the weekend, Yungblud and Aerosmith paid tribute to Ozzy at the MTV VMAs by performing a medley of his and Black Sabbath’s songs. From Rolling Stone US. Read More

Entertainment Although it’s never truly gone away, it’s been a minute since the Borderlands series really mattered to most gamers. Following a pair of excellent releases with the 2009 original and 2012’s Borderlands 2 the franchise shifted into prequels, spin-offs, and eventually a trilogy capper in 2019, but by then some of the luster had worn off. After the dumpster fire of a live-action adaptation hit theaters in 2024, it almost became hard to remember why anyone ever liked Borderlands to begin with. But they did! The main games were extremely fun primarily due to two constants: satisfying gunplay and loot mechanics pulled from RPG series like Diablo. The special blend of action and item collection in Borderlands became a subgenre known as the looter shooter, where players kill countless enemies to earn weapons and equipment with random abilities that increasingly get stronger as the game progresses. The foundation laid by Borderlands eventually paved the way for other breakout hits like Destiny, Warframe, and The Division. Borderlands’ trademarks are its satirical tone and crude humor, with its cutthroat world in juxtaposition to the goofy characters and colorful art style. The series arguably peaked with 2012’s Borderlands 2, which refined the shooting mechanics of its predecessor and featured a much better story, introducing memorable characters like the charming antagonist Handsome Jack and the enthusiastically unhinged Tiny Tina. By Borderlands 3, however, the fine-tuned balance was thrown off with a maximalist approach that pushed the game’s mechanics, storytelling, and vulgarity to the breaking point — leaving many fans exhausted. Now, the developers at Gearbox have their work cut out for them with the latest installment, Borderlands 4 (out Sept. 12). The game is saddled with some tough tasks, needing to both bring back lapsed audiences from the series’ heyday and serve as a starting point for new players, too. And while there’s some major improvements that go a long way, many of the choices made feel like an overcorrection in unsatisfying ways. To those who came before The first and most glaring shift comes in the form of the game’s tone. While still an onslaught of snide jabs and one-liners, the developers have dialed the raunchy humor back to a fault. The pared down edginess, combined with a new antagonist with a more measured personality leaves the game feeling somewhat neutered in comparison to previous entries. Borderlands 4 may still feel great to play, but players may struggle to trudge along through its mostly boring story.  Borderlands 4 brings the story to a new planet with a whole new set of Vault Hunters to play as.2K Games Borderlands 4 takes place on the planet of Kairos, instead of Pandora, which was the setting of the first three games. Kairos previously remained cloaked until after the events of Borderlands 3 when Pandora’s moon, Elpis, crashed into Kairos, unveiling its existence. The newly revealed world is tyrannically ruled by the Timekeeper, a being who has existed for thousands of years and whose origins are shrouded in mystery.  Like previous games, players take on the role of one of four Vault Hunters, mercenaries who seek out alien depths on planets to discover the treasures hidden inside. Now that Kairos is no longer hidden, the protagonists join a group called the Crimson Resistance to explore these vaults and take down the Timekeeper in the process. Compared to fan-favorite Handsome Jack and even Borderlands 3’s less-beloved Calypso twins, the Timekeeper is a rather boring villain. His motivations and obsession with keeping order at all costs aren’t really revealed until the very end and even then it seems mostly one dimensional. He’s an overly serious antagonist who doesn’t seem to have a single funny bone in his body, much less an ounce of the striking charisma that Handsome Jack embodied. As a result, it’s hard to stay engaged with the story.  The game’s narrative and comedic writing feels flat. Somehow even more Claptrap would be welcomed.2K Games Despite Borderlands 3’s excess of tasteless jokes, the game was at least pushing to entertain. Here, the more muted sense of humor feels slightly deflating. Even the franchise’s mascot, the obnoxious one-wheeled robot Claptrap, briefly makes an appearance near the start of the game only to disappear for the rest of the adventure. Many fans have a love-hate relationship with Claptrap; most of the time, he’s a grating presence, but he fits the series’ madcap tone perfectly. It’s hard to believe, but that chatter-mouthed bastard is sorely missed, and his relative absence in a new entry just feels wrong. The more the merrier As in the previous Borderlands games, there are four new Vault Hunters to choose from: Amon, Harlowe, Rafa, and Vex. Each fits into typical RPG classes — with Armon being the close combat brute, Harlow the magical crowd control specialist, Rafa the agile rogue, and Vex serving as a summoner who calls on minions to do the dirty work. They all have wildly different attacks and moves to cater to various playstyles. Each character has three action skills and corresponding ability trees to invest in. As they level up, players gain skill points to become more powerful. Like most RPGs, there’s a trade off to what kind of skills you’ll want to unlock in order to forge the most desirable build. For example, Rafa can augment his Peacebreaker Cannons to disconnect from him as an active auto-turret, but that means giving up the ability to fire homing missiles from them. It’s fun experimenting with different builds to see which one fits best, and the game lets you reset spent skill points at a Respec Station for a small fee. Experimentation is encouraged without incurring much of a penalty. Capitalizing on team synergy with Amon’s Crucible skill makes for wild combinations.2K Games While Borderlands 4 can be played solo, it’s much more fun in co-op. This lets each Vault Hunter’s abilities synergize, resulting in much more explosive minute-to-minute gameplay moments. For example, Harlowe’s Zero-Point ability lifts enemies in midair, leaving them vulnerable to your teammates’ bullets. This could give anyone playing as Amon a brief moment to more properly aim his Crucible skill, where he conjures ice and fire axes that deal massive damage. It feels