The story of Borderlands 4 began with a tweet from a fan of the series, expressing concerns about the new installment. They pointed out that the game's visuals bear a striking resemblance to Borderlands 3 and raised questions about potential challenges due to a reduced marketing budget. The fan also referenced the unsuccessful Borderlands 2024 movie, which received harsh criticism from audiences and critics alike, including notable filmmaker Uwe Boll. Rather than engaging in a constructive dialogue with the community, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford responded by saying he "doesn't want to see this negativity" and initially planned to block the user to avoid unnecessary stress. Later, he reconsidered and opted to mute notifications from the account instead.
The situation intensified when popular streamer Gothalion called on the developer to be more receptive to criticism and respectful of the opinions of long-time fans. In response, Pitchford dismissed the comment as "toxic pessimism" and not constructive. He further stressed the intense pressure developers face, stating that they are "killing themselves to entertain players."
This response elicited varied reactions within the Borderlands community. Some users rallied behind Pitchford, acknowledging the immense pressure game developers endure. Others criticized his response as an avoidance of constructive dialogue and perceived it as overly emotional. Many also recalled that this was not the first instance of the Gearbox head making sharp comments on social media.
Borderlands 4 is set to launch on September 23, 2025, and will be available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. Fans are eagerly awaiting more details and hoping for a game that lives up to the franchise's storied legacy.
