NewsBeat
Borderlands 4: Mad Ellie And The Vault Of The Damned review – essential DLC
The first Story Pack for Borderlands 4 does several things better than the main game, while introducing one of the best new vault hunters in the series.
When Borderlands 4 was released in September last year, it may have felt like something of a throwback, as a story-led first person shooter designed for single or co-operative play, with its familiar cel-shaded visual style and wacky humour. But it was a lot of fun, and highly successful, with developer Gearbox endowing it with an ever-expanding, endgame, along with a surprising level of replayability.
Now Gearbox has released Borderlands 4’s first substantial chunk of DLC; the first of two mooted story expansions, this one entitled Mad Ellie And The Vault Of The Damned. It introduces a whole new area to the planet of Kairos – mainly a glacier, but with way more character and content than you would expect to find in a snowy waste – as well as a new story arc and a new vault hunter, called C4SH.
The Story Pack invites you to use whatever save you might already have going in Borderlands 4 and it starts you off at level 13, which is handy since that gives you some points with which to upgrade your vault hunter’s abilities. You can pick any vault hunter, but obviously it makes sense to play as C4SH.
In terms of story, as the DLC’s title suggests, some familiar characters from the Borderlands universe feature prominently, notably Ellie, Moxxi’s feisty daughter; Moxxi herself; and the sinister Mancubus, who didn’t feature in the main game.
The story starts off slowly, by introducing the new environment and its deadly flora and fauna to you, as you pick up Ellie’s trail. It’s pleasingly different to that of the rest of Kairos: a much more anarchic space, in which various giant spaceships and pods have crashed, and a mysterious megalith is warping everyone’s minds, causing them to hear ghostly voices.
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Gearbox has availed itself fully of the weirdness that such a set-up allows. For example, your vault hunter gets dragged into dream sequences involving the captain of a doomed, crashing spaceship and his cryogenically frozen son. After that slow start, the story explodes into weirdness (much of it explained by Mancubus, a connoisseur of the weird) and only improves as it continues.
It takes around six hours to complete the main story, but a wealth of side missions add anything up to another nine hours. Plus, there are bunkers to discover and claim (by killing their resident bosses), along with all manner of environmental encounters, so there’s close to 20 hours of new gameplay in the Story Pack, which is pretty meaty – but then again, the price tag is substantial.
The side missions are well worth pursuing; some are primarily designed to make you laugh, while others are more convoluted and introduce you to previously neglected parts of the map. Their general diversity is notable, with some encouraging you to perform ridiculously odd tasks, which is exactly the sort of thing most crave from a Borderlands game. Pretty much all of them give you the impression that Gearbox had great fun crafting them.
The new vault hunter, C4SH is definitely one of the highlights of the DLC. He’s a robot and a former professional gambler. He’s not visually that interesting but his action skills may just be the best of any of the game’s vault hunters.
He has three: the ability to whirl around in a frenzy shooting revolvers from each hand, rolling three dice and spawning a golem (whose level depends on what score his dice throw up), and the ability to chuck cards dealing various types of elemental damage at surrounding enemies.
The latter was by far our favourite, as certain coloured cards wreak vast amounts of damage and they can be wielded with precision so that you can use one timed period of card-chucking to reduce a horde of surrounding enemies to near death. And as you level C4SH’s action skill up, it grows even more powerful – you can, for example, unlock red cards that deal instant-kills to the more basic enemies.
The DLC’s environment also impresses; it has more verticality to it that the main areas of Kairos and points where you really have to use all the tools at your disposal – hover jumps and grapple hooks included – to get to hidden places. Plus, it has diversity: there are lush underground oases in the glacier and pools through which you must swim to access certain places, along with giant wrecked spaceships which also offer traversal challenges.
Overall, the level design feels tighter than that of the main game, perhaps an indication that that aspect of Borderlands 4 – whose map, of course, had a much greater surface area – was a tiny bit rushed. Whether or not that was the case, this is pretty much an essential purchase if you enjoyed the original game. It’s meaty, beautifully designed, and much more uninhibited than the main game; it also has the best vault hunter and is generally up there with the finest parts of the franchise.
If you haven’t played Borderlands 4 but are contemplating it, then it’s a good idea get a version that includes the story DLC. Another reason why now would be a good time to do so, is that Gearbox has worked hard to improve the game technically since release, and it’s noticeably slicker and smoother than it was last autumn.
Plus, it contains vastly more to do when you finish all the storylines. Mad Ellie And The Vault Of The Damned does a fine job of emphasising the fact that Borderlands 4 is a game that is improving over time, a testament to its solid infrastructure design when it was first released.
Borderlands 4 – Story Pack 1: Mad Ellie And The Vault Of The Damned review summary
In Short: An impressive, near-essential expansion for Borderlands 4, with an excellent new vault hunter and some of the best level and mission design in the franchise.
Pros: Great new vault hunter, tight level design, and imaginative and diverse side missions. Decent new bosses and plenty of content.
Cons: Still some long-running problems, like the dodgy direction indicator. Very expensive, with some patchy voice-acting.
Score: 8/10
Formats: PC (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5*
Price: £26.99
Publisher: 2K
Developer: Gearbox Software
Release Date: 26th March 2026
Age Rating: 18
*Nintendo Switch 2 version has been indefinitely postponed.
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The Grand National 2026 is just around the corner, with the world-famous Aintree racecourse set to host three days of racing across April 9-11.
Standard and hospitality tickets start at £33.50 at The Jockey Club, with VIP and hospitality packages also available from £249 at Seat Unique.
It’s no secret that there are some fantastic spots to get some great grub across the region, a place home to so many talented and dedicated restaurants.
And this year we’ve once again been looking to shine a spotlight on the best of the best, along with the help of our readers.
We can now reveal the top ten finalists in our competition – and we want you to now vote for your favourite.
This year’s top ten are:
- Burtree Inn – Burtree Gate, Darlington, DL2 2XZ
- Stable Hearth – 33-35 Duke Street, Darlington, DL3 7RX
- Taipan Asia – 10 Crown Street, Darlington, DL1 1LU
- Tawny Owl – Neasham Road, Hurworth Moor, Darlington, DL3 1QE
- The Bay Horse – 45 The Green, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2AA
- The Bridge Inn – The Green, Stapleton, DL2 2QQ
- The Crown at Mickleton – Mickleton, Barnard Castle, DL12 0JZ
- The Ivy Tree – Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3RY
- The Loft Steakhouse & Grill – 10 Crown Street, Darlington, DL1 1LU
- The Talbot – 47–49 The Green, Bishopton, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 1HE
To vote, you simply need to cut out a coupon printed in The Northern Echo this week and next. You have until Wednesday, April 22 to vote for your favourite.
In the meantime, we’ll be highlighting each of the restaurants and gastropubs in our top ten to help you decide which one to vote for.
The Northern Echo editor Gavin Foster said: “We have some fantastic restaurants across Darlington and County Durham and our best restaurant or gastropub competition is the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on that.
“We are delighted to once again be launching our search for the best of the best. Get your votes in now!”
To vote, you simply need to cut out a coupon printed in The Northern Echo this week and next. You have until
Last year’s activities included a Best Hopscotch competition, play garden, a reading nook, Best Military Card Writing Station and more.
But the crown jewel of the event every year in the White House Easter Egg Roll and Egg Hunt. First Lady Melania Trump announced the details for the 148th White House Easter Egg Roll which is set to take place on Monday, April 6 in Washington.
This year, the White House Easter Egg Roll will honor America’s 250th birthday by incorporating patriotic themes throughout the event and each year there is a ticket lottery for people to apply to join in.
The event sees children given wooden eggs to partake in a host of games and activities from rolling competitions to egg races on the lawns of the White House.
Here’s everything we know about the tradition.
What is the White House Easter Egg Roll?
The White House Easter Egg Roll is a historic annual event held on the South Lawn on Easter Monday for children aged 13 and younger, featuring egg rolling races, games, and entertainment.
It is one of the oldest annual events at the White House. Newspaper accounts from as early as 1872 recount stories of children of all ages joining together to roll eggs on the west side of the Presidential Capitol grounds.
But it all came to an end when families and their children apparently caused such a ruckus on the congressional grounds in 1876 that the Turf Protection Law was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant citing landscape concerns and stopping the grounds from being used for egg rolling fun.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, stand with the Easter bunny as they participate in the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP
The egg rolling party was rained out in 1876 and in 1878 notice was posted that children would not be allowed to roll eggs at the Capitol.
In 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes instructed his guards to let the youngsters through the gates again after becoming aware of their disappointment.
From then – and barring times of war – an annual egg rolling event has been held on the South Lawn.
Just when you thought you’d nailed your supplement routine, we’re here to tell you that you might need to shake things up for spring.
After what feels like the longest winter, the days are finally getting lighter and brighter, and with the change in weather comes the perfect time to kickstart a path to a healthier life. You might already feel like you’re striving to do everything right — racking up your plant points each week, working out consistently, getting your sleep hygiene in place and trying your best to keep a lid on stress, but taking a seasonal approach to wellness can give your efforts an extra boost.
Supplements can play a part in supporting your health, but rather than viewing them as a quick fix, think of streamlining your routine to sync with the seasons. That said, it’s always wise to consult a registered healthcare professional, such as a nutritionist, before introducing new supplements. And remember, supplements should complement (not replace) a balanced diet, since nourishing your body through whole foods should always come first. As winter fades and we welcome spring, certain nutrients may become more important — here’s an overview of what to consider.
The change in seasons naturally brings with it a fluctuations in the microbiome as your diet, environment, and activities change. Longer days often mean more travel, al fresco dining, and shifts in routine, all of which can temporarily disrupt gut balance. A probiotic during these months may help maintain healthy gut flora, support digestion, and keep your immune system strong. It’s always worth choosing formulations that contain multiple well-studied strains, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, to maximise the benefits across your digestive system.
The noise around collagen has been loud for a while now, and with good reason. This protein (which is the most abundant protein in the body) supports skin elasticity, hydration, and overall firmness. During spring and summer, increased sun exposure and higher temperatures (they don’t have to be that high to cause an effect) can accelerate moisture loss and the breakdown of collagen in the skin. Supplementing with collagen (especially hydrolysed collagen peptides) may help maintain skin hydration, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and support natural repair processes. Combining collagen with vitamin C-rich foods can further enhance collagen synthesis and help protect skin from seasonal environmental stressors. Most collagen supplements contain animal derivatives, however, there are vegan alternatives available, meaning you can easily find an option that works for you.
You don’t have to be an athlete or even a seasoned gym-goer to benefit from including electrolytes in your routine. Crucial for maintaining fluid balance, muscle function, and nerve signalling, these minerals are lost through sweat. Even modest increases in temperature can leave you feeling fatigued, sluggish, or prone to cramps — which is when the benefits of electrolytes shines.
While UK summers aren’t exactly Dubai-esque, the Met Office predicts 2026 will be among the four warmest years on record, with March already experiencing unusually high temperatures. Replenishing electrolytes through hydration on these hotter than usual days with mineral-rich foods, or targeted supplements can help sustain energy levels, support workout performance, and keep your body functioning at its best during the warmer weather. Electrolytes usually come in powder sachets or dissolvable tabs, making them easy to add to water to stay hydrated on the go.
Magnesium is an ‘all rounder’ mineral that supports everything from stress to sleep, so generally speaking, it’s one of those supplements that you could probably do with topping up. Magnesium is utilised by the body to support hundred of day-to-day processes and it’s readily available in foods like dark green leafy veg, nuts, seeds and legumes. Yet even with a balanced diet, many people don’t get enough, especially during periods of stress when the body uses more. Certain medications such as some antibiotics, and acid reflux proton pump inhibitors can lower absorption rates, and even taking GLP-1 medications can also lower levels due to reduced appetite. Magnesium bisglycinate or citrate are two of the highly absorbable forms to choose when it comes to supplementing.
In the spring and summer months Vitamin C can be obtained from eating well
Pexels
The supplements you might no longer need
The nutrients that may be less essential during spring…
We need vitamin D for brain health and bone health, and unlike most other vitamins, which are readily absorbed from our diets, our main source of vitamin D comes from sunlight. From March to September, the sun’s UVB rays are high enough in the sky to penetrate through our skin, so unless you fall into a category of people that might need to supplement all year round (such as people with darker skin, shift workers and the elderly), you are probably ok to ditch the bottle over the spring and summer months.
In winter, vitamin C supplements are often used as a buffer against colds and infections. By spring, exposure to sunlight, more activity, and fewer circulating viruses reduce that pressure. That’s not to say vitamin C isn’t important, but you’ll be able to obtain it from seasonal fruits and vegetables like strawberries, citrus, spinach, and peppers which the body is generally able to absorb well.
Energy levels often slump in winter, which is why CoQ10, a compound that facilitates cellular energy production is a popular supplement to take during the darker, colder months when fatigue can feel more pronounced. In summer, however, your energy naturally benefits from longer daylight hours, increased physical activity, and given that your body usually produces enough on its own when you’re active and eating well, you might be able to sidestep supplementing with an energy-boosting supplement such as CoQ10 and include lots of CoQ10 foods such as oily fish including salmon and sardines, nuts and seeds, chicken and spinach in your diet.
Ashley Smith, 23, spent 13 years in care from age eight, alongside his twin brother Nathan, for nine of those years.
Mr Smith is one of four siblings and lived with three different foster families during his time in care.
He said: “I would ask more local families to think about fostering and offering a safe and loving home to a child who needs one, and I would especially ask for brothers and sisters to be kept together whenever possible.”
He credits his progress to his final foster carers, Diane and Stuart Kelly from Harrogate.
He added: “They offered a warm and loving home where I felt I belonged.
“Diane and Stuart have done a lot for me emotionally and financially too.
“Truly caring and treating a young person as part of the family makes all the difference.”
Ashley now lives in York and is studying children, young people, and society at university, where he then hopes to become a social worker.
Cllr Janet Sanderson, executive member for children and families at North Yorkshire Council, said: “We are incredibly proud of Ashley and everything he has achieved.”
Hotel rooms, cabins and apartments are all available for rent and included in the price are the endless lakes, woodlands and meadows to romp in. It would be impossible to get bored here, with paddleboarding, fresh-water wild swimming, cycling, kayaking, zip wire, archery, bushcraft and tennis all on the menu.
Mike Kearney, a National Education Union (NEU) representative, received the award at the NEU’s national conference in Brighton for his solidarity work supporting teachers in Ukraine.
Daniel Kebede, president of the union, said: “Congratulations to Michael for his exemplary international solidarity work.
“Michael’s commitments to Ukraine’s teachers and pupils have been unwavering.”
Mr Kearney was honoured for his ongoing efforts to support Ukrainian teachers and students, and is travelling with support from the NEU Ukraine Solidarity Network.
On April 2, he set off from Brighton in a van delivering aid to Ukraine.
The van included educational materials donated by York schools, along with Easter eggs for children and families.
He will leave the van in Ukraine to assist with ongoing aid delivery.
Need to know
State pension rises 4.8% from April 6 under triple lock
UK state pension triple lock rise: Everything you need to know
- Pensioners across the UK will see significant changes to their state pensions from April, with both payment amounts and retirement ages being affected.
- The state pension will increase by 4.8% under the triple lock guarantee, meaning those receiving the full new state pension will see their weekly income rise from £230.25 to £241.30. Those on the basic state pension will see payments increase from £176.45 to £184.90 per week.
- Pensions minister Torsten Bell said: “After a lifetime of work and contribution, people deserve a decent retirement.”
- Simultaneously, the state pension age is beginning a phased rise from 66 to 67, which will affect new pensioners in monthly increments. People born on or after April 6 1960 may qualify at 66 and one month, gradually increasing to a full state pension age of 67 for those born on or after March 6 1961.
- Zoe Alexander from Pensions UK warned: “Because the change happens in monthly steps, a single day’s difference in your birthday can shift your state pension age by weeks or months.” She advised people to check their eligibility dates on gov.uk and plan for any potential financial gaps.
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the age increase will save around £10 billion annually but warned it could increase poverty rates among affected groups. Those planning early retirement will need to bridge the gap until their state pension begins.
- Experts recommend checking pension forecasts annually and using government calculators to avoid retirement planning shocks.
Every year at San Mames, the iconic home of Athletic Club in Bilbao, local fans pause to recognise and celebrate players not from their own club, but those who share a unique value with the Basque outfit – loyalty.
Athletic Club – famous for only fielding players born or raised in the region – introduced the One-Club Award in 2015, honouring those who dedicated their entire professional career to a single team.
“We wanted to create an award that recognised most kids growing up dream of playing for one club,” explains Dan Parry from the La Liga side’s communications department.
“On the other side, we wanted to show despite all the big-money transfers in modern-day football, there are top players all over the world who want to become one-club players.
“It’s an individual award, but it’s also an award that celebrates the union between the football team, fans and the player.”
Keeping those values in mind, then, this week I’m ranking football’s top 10 one-club men – you can have you say below, too.
The app named ‘Music Videos’ is said to have shown up on some Brits’ devices but many of them have said they never installed it in the first place.
TikToker Free Tech Official recently shared a video investigating the app’s surprise appearance with a few suggestions on why it may have happened.
He claims the app has been automatically installed onto your Fire Stick by Amazon themselves, and the global shopping giant have now confirmed this is true.
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The TikToker claims that it may be the company’s push towards getting their customers to use ad-supported free streaming platforms.
He says Amazon would rather you use a streaming music app where they can gain a revenue rather than you using a different app to stream your tunes from.
Amazon confirmed that pre-installed apps and experiences are an industry standard practice across consumer electronic devices as they help create a better experience for customers.
The app ‘Music Videos’ offers customers quick access to music videos, which represent unique content that isn’t always readily available on traditional music streaming services
Amazon states that offering free, ad-supported content is one way they make it easier for customers to access content on the Fire TV Stick.
Free Tech Official claims that when some users click on the app it may freeze or doesn’t even launch and while TV Fire Stick users are saying they never downloaded the app in the first place, he points out that annoyingly it cannot be uninstalled.
Free Tech Official said: “A random app is appearing on Fire Stick and Fire TV devices and I’ll be interested to know if you see this app as well.
“On your Fire Stick if you go to the app section on the right hand side, go to the three squares and the plus icon and click on that.
“It’ll bring up lots of your apps and channels which you’ve got installed.
“And if I go down to the end, you can see one here that says ‘music videos watch free now’.
“Most of the people that are seeing this haven’t actually installed the app and a lot of people are wondering how it got there?
“And there is a reason for this. But first of all, if I click on this app, it takes me straight to the Amazon app store to download it.
“But it is showing in my app section like I’ve got it installed.
“Other people can open it and it works, some people open it up and it just freezes and doesn’t even launch.
“And this is actually being installed automatically by Amazon.
“So it’s nothing you’ve done or it’s nothing somebody else might have done.
“Another interesting thing with this as well is you can’t remove it, you can’t uninstall it.
“Now Amazon’s really pushing towards ad supported free streaming and I suppose they’d rather you use something where they gain a revenue rather than you going to different apps and streaming music from there.”
An Amazon spokesperson said: “The Fire TV experience is designed to get customers to what they want to watch—fast.
“With access to over 1.5 million movies and TV episodes, all major streaming apps, and AI-powered search and recommendation features, Fire TV helps customers navigate endless entertainment options and discover content they’ll love across all their apps and subscriptions. Music Videos is another way we’re giving customers access to more free content.”
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