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Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
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Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
game·M·Oct 13, 2014·
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Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
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Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
game
M
October 13, 2014
Wokeometer Rating
6Mixed
Scale: 0 = not woke, 10 = maximally woke
TL;DR Verdict
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel mixes deliberate gender balance among its playable characters with supporting relationships and dialogue that reflect modern sensibilities. These choices add flavor without dominating the core loot-shooter action, supporting a moderate 6/10 rating.
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Detailed Analysis
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel features intentional progressive elements centered on gender and sexuality representation.
Playable characters include two women (Athena the Gladiator and Nisha the Lawbringer) alongside Wilhelm and Claptrap, reflecting deliberate efforts by writers Anthony Burch and Maurice Suckling to achieve 1:1 gender parity after an initial male-heavy plan. Supporting character Janey Springs, a lesbian junk dealer, repeatedly flirts with Athena; their relationship is confirmed via in-game dialogue (including a high-five scene with Tiny Tina) and carries into Tales from the Borderlands.
Writers explicitly added Janey as lesbian to address a prior lack of such characters in the franchise. Additional touches include Mr. Torgue delivering a line condemning the "friendzone" concept as misogynist and minor NPC Rose Yin referencing a female ex-partner.
Key Factors
- Intentional lesbian romance subplot between playable Athena and NPC Janey Springs with developer confirmation of diversity goals
- Prioritized gender balance in playable cast (two women out of four base characters)
- Light feminist-leaning dialogue and developer statements on sexuality/gender inclusion as 'good design'
Methodology: Each score synthesizes audience discourse, critic and aggregator reception, and press coverage — weighed against the work itself, not any single source.
Detailed BreakdownPro
Identity Politics & Racial Essentialism
Gender Ideology & LGBTQ+ Themes
DEI Casting & Representation Mandates
Preachiness & Message-First Agenda
Corporate & Creator Activism
See how this title scores across all 5 woke subcategories with detailed explanations.
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Privacy policyIs Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Woke?
We've run a full content analysis on Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and scored it 6/10 on the woke scale. Read our detailed breakdown above to see exactly what we found.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of woke content is in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel?
Our analysis checks for themes like identity politics, race-swapping, gender ideology, environmental activism, anti-religious messaging, and other progressive agenda elements. The score breakdown above shows which specific categories were flagged and how heavily they factor into Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel's overall score.
Is Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel appropriate for kids?
Wokeometer focuses on ideological content rather than traditional ratings (violence, language, etc.). Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is rated M. For a full picture, combine our woke analysis with the age rating to decide if it's right for your family.
How does Wokeometer score video games?
We evaluate media across multiple ideological categories on a 0–10 scale. Scores of 0–3 mean story-first, 4–6 have moderate elements, and 7–10 flag heavily agenda-driven content. Learn more about our methodology →
