Gearbox Releases Borderlands Dead ECHOs Audio Drama, Bringing Pandora Back
A new Borderlands audio drama is out now, sending players back to Pandora with an official story produced by Gearbox. Borderlands Dead ECHOs follows two original characters—Watts and Junie—while they uncover secrets tied to DAHL and a corporate hit squad.
Borderlands Dead ECHOs: How to listen right now
Borderlands Dead ECHOs is available starting today on major podcast platforms. Episode 1 is currently live on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple.
What the story is about
The drama centers on a DAHL Echo operator named Watts, who sorts through undeliverable ECHO Logs in search of information he can sell on the black market. Watts then crosses paths with Junie, who pushes him to use his skills for good—only for the pair to become tangled in a conspiracy that draws the attention of DAHL’s corporate hit squad.
Who appears in the cast
Watts is voiced by Joel Watson and Junie by April Johnson. The audio drama also brings back familiar roles tied to the franchise, with David Wald, J. Michael Tatum, and Jim Foronda returning as Wainwright Jakobs, Sir Hammerlock, and Claptrap.
Pandora is back, and DAHL is the threat
While Borderlands 4 recently moved the series to the planet of Kairos, Dead ECHOs returns to Pandora, where bandits and lawlessness dominate. DAHL also takes center stage again as the antagonist force, continuing its role as a recurring threat across earlier Borderlands games.
Release schedule: weekly episodes starting with Episode 1
Dead ECHOs is planned to release in weekly episodes, meaning listeners won’t get the full audio drama at launch. Fans can still follow the release pace on their chosen platform to keep up with new installments.
What happened to the release window
Borderlands Dead ECHOs was first announced at PAX West in 2025, with an initial release window set for Spring 2026. After missing that window without additional updates from Gearbox, the project has returned with a surprise today release across podcast platforms.
More Borderlands content planned for late 2026
Dead ECHOs isn’t the only scheduled Borderlands release in the latter half of 2026. A second DLC story pack for Borderlands 4 is planned for later this year, including a new playable Vault Hunter named Loveless to expand the roster.
Loveless is set to arrive after the release of C4SH as part of the Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned DLC, which launched in March. Borderlands 4 has also received Bounty Pack 3 and A Zane to Kill For, released last month.
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