The Pre-Sequel serves as a critical bridge in the Borderlands timeline, exploring the moral erosion of . Initially presented as a man with "good intentions" attempting to save Pandora's moon, Elpis, Jack's journey is one of increasing paranoia and entitled megalomania.

: Through missions like "Handsome AI," players witness Jack's desire for immortality by digitizing his personality—a process that results in an AI declaring all humans must die.

: Provides a wave-based arena that tests high-level gear and character builds.

: Taking place on Elpis, the game introduced O2 (Oz) kits , allowing for double-jumping and "slam" attacks that added a new vertical dimension to combat.

The Pre-Sequel introduced unique mechanical shifts that defined its identity compared to its predecessor:

: Widely considered one of the best expansions in the series, it dives into Claptrap’s psyche to retrieve the "H-Source," further exploring the origins of Jack’s hatred for the robot.