Randy Pitchford embroiled in new scandal

The narrative surrounding the upcoming installment of the Borderlands series began with a tweet from a dedicated fan who expressed concerns about the new game. They highlighted that the visuals of the new title closely mimic those of Borderlands 3, suggesting potential challenges due to a reduced marketing budget. The fan also compared it to the unsuccessful Borderlands 2024 movie, which faced harsh criticism from both audiences and critics—even from director Uwe Boll. Rather than engaging with the community's feedback, Randy Pitchford, head of Gearbox, initially declared his intention to block the user, stating a desire to avoid "negativity" and the associated stress. Later, he reconsidered and opted to mute notifications from the account instead.

The situation intensified when popular streamer Gothalion encouraged Gearbox to embrace criticism and respect the opinions of long-time fans. In response, Pitchford dismissed the comment as "toxic pessimism" and not constructive. He also highlighted the immense pressure on developers, saying they are "killing themselves to entertain players."

This exchange sparked diverse reactions within the Borderlands community. Some defended Pitchford, acknowledging the intense pressure developers face. Others viewed his response as an evasion of constructive dialogue, labeling his behavior as overly emotional. Many pointed out that this was not the first instance of Pitchford making sharp remarks on social media.

Borderlands 4 is set to launch on September 23, 2025, and will be available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.