The beloved Borderlands franchise is currently facing a wave of negative reviews on Steam, triggered by recent changes to the End User License Agreement (EULA) by its publisher, Take-Two Interactive. Dive into the details of player reactions and the potential implications for the series.
Borderlands Games Recent Reviews Are "Mixed" and "Mostly Negative"
Take-Two Terms of Service Changes
Following the discovery of updated terms in Take-Two Interactive's EULA, Borderlands, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands 3 have been hit with a barrage of negative reviews on Steam. Reddit user Noob4Head brought attention to these changes on May 18, sparking a significant backlash among fans.
Take-Two updated its terms of service on February 28, but the issue only recently gained widespread attention after being highlighted by various Reddit users and YouTubers. The updated EULA includes the implementation of anti-cheat software, which some fans have controversially dubbed "spyware."
Community speculation suggests that the new EULA allows Take-Two root-level access to users' machines, potentially collecting sensitive personal data such as passwords and contact information. However, these claims remain unconfirmed as Take-Two has yet to address the public's concerns directly.
The introduction of anti-cheat software raises questions, especially since the Borderlands series thrives on its vibrant modding community. The impact of these changes on modding and whether they are necessary for the upcoming Borderlands 4 release are still unclear.
Possibly An Overreaction?
While many fans view the EULA changes as invasive, others believe the reaction may be exaggerated. Reddit user Librask stated, "People are overreacting for sure. The EULA is hardly any different than the one before it all the way back in 2018." It's worth noting that Take-Two's terms of service are a general document, not all of which may apply directly to Borderlands.
The EULA allows Take-Two to manage its products, including updating the agreement, and users can choose to either accept these terms or discontinue using the services. Root-level access is not uncommon in multiplayer gaming, used by titles like League of Legends, Valorant, and Rainbow Six: Siege to combat cheating. However, the inclusion of such software in Borderlands, which lacks a significant PvP scene, has left fans puzzled.
As the controversy unfolds, the response from Take-Two and any potential reversal of the EULA changes remain to be seen. Meanwhile, the company is preparing for the launch of Borderlands 4, set for release on September 12, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting addition to the looter-shooter genre.
