Do you really think you can find them all? Gearbox has hidden over 200 Marcus bobbleheads in Borderlands 4, placing them in secret and hard-to-reach places across the game world.
These collectibles are so well-hidden that Randy Pitchford, the head of the studio, said most players probably won’t find even one. If you enjoy a challenge, this could be the biggest treasure hunt in the series so far – so get ready to explore every corner and search where no Vault Hunter has looked before.
Borderlands 4 Brings Huge Changes to Exploration
Borderlands 4 collectibles are changing the way rewards work in games, pushing beyond bacis loot mechanics into true discovery and exploration. This shift toward Gearbox exploration began when Randy Pitchford, the studio’s head, asked Andrew Reiner – former game journalist turned developer – to uncover the most hard-to-reach places on the map.
Reiner succeeded, inspiring the team to tuck rewards into these hidden spots as a way to invite deeper exploration. It’s a move that echoes titles like Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Elden Ring, where secrets and lore aren’t just scattered – they’re woven into the world itself.
With community-driven map reveals and shared discoveries, Gearbox is turning players into curious adventurers. In Borderlands 4, exploration isn’t optional – it’s part of the thrill.
Movement Overhaul in BL4
Now, with new movement options like double-jumping, grappling, dashing, and even gliding, players can explore areas that were impossible to reach before. These traversal tools let them climb mountains, enter secret caves, and discover every part of Kairos, the game world. Check out Vex Gameplay trailer, and how movement changes impacted entire gameplay of Borderlands 4.
This is part of the new Gearbox exploration idea – rewards that make searching the open world more exciting and meaningful. Pitchford said these places were designed to look amazing and to feel untouched, like no one had ever been there before.
Genesis of Marcus Bobbleheads
There’s also a story reason for the bobbleheads being all over Kairos. Pitchford said that during a disaster, a box full of bobbleheads was sent from the moon Elpis and broke apart over the planet, spreading the items everywhere. Shared pictures show bobbleheads in desks, on mountains, and next to strange paintings – each one telling a small part of the game’s story through its location.
In open world games, well-placed collectibles aren’t just shiny objects to grab – they’re powerful tools that shape how players interact with the world. Compared to earlier Borderlands titles, which had fun loot but often lacked depth in exploration, recent entries follow games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Elden Ring, where hidden lore and secrets encourage curiosity and patience.
When we set out to make a large, seamless world in Borderlands 4, we didn’t quite know what we were getting into. We designed a massive world and we committed ourselves to filling it! Thread: 1/12
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) July 13, 2025
Best Borderlands are Coming?
Gearbox seems to have learned that rewarding exploration with meaningful surprises can change the way players move through their maps. And when secrets are cleverly revealed or hinted at, the whole community lights up, sharing discoveries and deepening engagement. Collectibles might be small, but their impact is huge – turning maps into mysteries and players into adventurers.