[UPDATE: It seems that data miners have discovered that the buff icon is the same icon as a creature related to a locked mini-game called Citizen Science on Sanctuary, meaning that this is a bug. Original speculation follows]
Borderlands 3’s new Guns, Love, and Tentacles is here, complete with a brand new location to explore, a brand new story to experience, and brand new guns to collect. As expected, it comes loaded with content, but some players are discovering something strange: a new Pink Spider icon that goes unexplained. While this would seemingly be tied to the newBL3DLC, it doesn’t actually appear to be so (despite the Lovecraftian design), as players who haven’t purchased the DLC also see it. It’s worth mentioning that there will beMINOR SPOILERSin this article, so for those who have not yet played the DLC, it may be best to turn back now.
Otherwise, there are a few things to note about the aforementioned icon. It appears under the experience bar and will seemingly disappear if a player spends about 90 minutes in one location. Traveling, and specifically fast traveling to the Lodge, resets whatever unforeseen timer is attached to this newBorderlands 3icon. However, it doesn’t appear for every player, and whether it is active or not doesn’t seem to bestow any effect on the player, noticeably anyway.
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Boderlands 3 Pink Spider Icon - The Simple Theories
As such, many players have taken to speculating as to what this could mean. There are some general sentiments as to what it could be, but others have their own particularBorderlands 3theories. The simplest explanation is that, with or without it, there’s some buff somewhere that players simply cannot check. Whether this is faster XP gain or what cannot be determined, but in the grand scheme of things, this seems to be the likeliest explanation. In the same vein, it could be a potential timer for something. It’ll disappear after about 90 minutes, which may matter depending on where players are. Another solid and simple possibility is this is some type of bug for something not yet meant to be added to the game.
Borderlands 3 Spider Icon - The Raid Boss Theory
Assuming it is a timer, the question becomes for what? The icon clearly seems to denote some type of lovecraftian enemy, so it’s possible that this timer is for one of therumoredBorderlands 3traditional raid bosses. There may be something players have to do with the icon to unlock it that goes undiscovered, but it’s worth mentioning that the story focuses around Gythian, a presumed Vault Monster that simply exists as a dead creature (but with a beating heart) surrounding the new planet Xylourgos. Avoiding spoilers, it’s possible that Gythian is that vault monster and could somehow be connected to the icon.
There’s also the locked doors at Ascension Bluff that many have theorized to be connected to a raid boss since launch, but that particularBorderlands 3raid bosswouldn’t seemingly have a similar design. As such, if this is indeed a raid boss timer, it’s not likely connected here but to the DLC. This may be invalidated by the fact that those who do not own the DLC can see the icon as well, or there could be another explanation for that in general.
Borderlands 3 Spider Icon - The COVID-19 Theory
A theory that seems plausible enough, developed byPistolP on theBorderlands 3forums, is that this icon is related to the on-going Coronavirus. The symbol is apparently that of a bacteriophage, a particular type of virus, which means that staying in one place (and not traveling) dispels the virus. Traveling around renews the virus. As such, the representation there makes sense when considering everyone who is trying to self-isolate. Staying in one place prevents players from having the virus, but traveling around is a renewed risk each and every time.
Either way, one can hopeBorderlands 3reveals what this symbol could mean; after all, a random, unknown buff or debuff only serves to drive those who have it mad. Considering thelovecraftian DLC, though, this may just be the point as well.
Borderlands 3is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
