The story of Borderlands 4 began with a tweet from a dedicated fan of the series, who expressed skepticism about the upcoming installment. They pointed out that the game's visuals bear a striking resemblance to Borderlands 3, raising concerns about potential challenges, possibly due to a reduced marketing budget. The fan also compared the situation to the disappointing 2024 Borderlands movie, which received harsh criticism from audiences and even from the notorious filmmaker Uwe Boll. Rather than fostering a dialogue with the community, Gearbox's CEO, Randy Pitchford, initially responded by saying he "doesn't want to see this negativity" and planned to block the user to avoid stress. He later clarified that he had reconsidered and instead muted notifications from that account.
The situation intensified when popular streamer Gothalion called on the developer to embrace criticism and respect the opinions of long-time fans. In response, Pitchford dismissed the comment as "toxic pessimism" and not constructive. He went on to highlight the extreme pressure developers face, stating that they are "killing themselves to entertain players".
This sparked a variety of reactions within the Borderlands community. Some rallied behind Pitchford, acknowledging the intense pressure developers endure. However, others viewed his response as an evasion of constructive dialogue, labeling his behavior as overly emotional. Many also recalled that this is 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.
