Summary
Gearbox’sBorderlandsfranchise has risen to prominence since bursting onto the scene back in 2009. The looter-shooter series has gained a huge fanbase since its inception thanks to its frantic action and excellent co-op modes. Throughout that time, each subsequent entry has attempted to get bigger and better in its world building and gameplay, expanding on lore and providing more ways for players to cause havoc across its multiple planets.Borderlandsis also known for having some of the most zany and irreverent humor in gaming, with many references to pop culture within and beyond gaming.
Probably the most defining feature ofBorderlands,though,is the dizzying arsenal of guns players can utilize while blasting their way through its universe. With thousands of randomly generated variations able to be found, the options for weapons are near limitless. Within the setting, these armaments are produced by various (often shady) companies, all with their own angle to their products. One of the manufacturers' inspirations is clear just by its choice of brand name and related mottos.Borderlands' Atlas corporationand its slogans connect directly to two figures from real-world mythology.
Atlas' Motto References in Borderlands Explained
The Two Titans, Atlas and Prometheus, in Classical Greek Mythology
Tons ofgames borrow heavily from Greek mythology, andBorderlandscounts itself among them in this particular instance. In the original legends, Atlas was one of the primordial Titans who preceded the more familiar Olympian pantheon that includes figures like Zeus, Hades, and Ares. According to the stories, Atlas sided with many of his fellow Titans in the war that broke out between the two sections. The newer gods ultimately won, and most of the Titans were cast out, often receiving a cruel sentence for their part in the battle of the heavens.
For his punishment, Atlas was tasked with holding up the “celestial sphere.” Though this originally meant the sky, he is frequently depicted in artworks supporting a globe of the world upon his shoulders instead. The image of Atlas doing so has become an iconic representation of perseverance. Meanwhile,Atlas’s brother, Prometheus, originally sided with the Olympians. However, he later deceives them, stealing the gift of fire and granting it to mortals. For his pride in helping “lesser beings,” he was chained to a rock, while vultures would peck at him each day. Both tales display a harsh judgment upon the brothers, as the two are forced to endure their suffering stoically for all eternity.
Some of the other popular games that have referenced Atlas and Prometheus includeBioShockandGod of War.
How the Atlas Corporation’s Slogans Reference the Titans in Borderlands
The Atlas corporation in theworld ofBorderlandsis one of the more strictly regimented companies. Alongside its arms operations, it fields a highly disciplined private military, wielding its own top-of-the-line munitions. It is fitting, then, that its slogans embody the plight and perseverance personified in the stories of the two Titans. The first, “for when the weight of the world is on your shoulders,” obviously calls back to Atlas as a symbol of unerring endurance in the face of adversity.
Atlas' second motto, “it is not often that mortals are allowed to wield the power of the gods,” ties into Prometheus, and the responsibility and consequences that come with access to powerful and dangerous technology, much like the corporations' experimental weapons. Both exemplify Atlas' mindset and values within theBorderlandsuniverse compared to its generally chaotic nature. Interestingly, while initially a villainous entity, in recent canon,Atlas was inherited by a new CEO. Given the change in leadership, it might very well see updated mottos in the future to reflect the new face of the company.
