The saga unfolded when a dedicated fan of the Borderlands series took to Twitter to voice concerns about the upcoming installment. They pointed out that the game's visuals bore a striking resemblance to Borderlands 3, raising fears about potential challenges stemming from a possibly reduced marketing budget. The fan also drew comparisons to the critically panned Borderlands 2024 movie, which even Uwe Boll, a notorious figure in the film industry, had criticized. Instead of fostering a constructive dialogue with the community, Randy Pitchford, the head of Gearbox, responded by stating he "doesn't want to see this negativity" and initially intended to block the critic to avoid undue stress. Later, he revised his approach, opting to mute notifications from that account rather than block them outright.
Tensions rose when Gothalion, a prominent streamer and long-time fan of the series, called on Pitchford to be more receptive to criticism and respectful of fan opinions. In response, Pitchford dismissed the feedback as "toxic pessimism" and not constructive, while also highlighting the extreme dedication of developers, saying they are "killing themselves to entertain players."
The community's response was divided. Some rallied behind Pitchford, acknowledging the intense pressure developers endure. Others criticized his approach as an evasion of constructive dialogue, labeling his reaction as overly emotional. Many also recalled previous instances where the Gearbox head had made contentious comments on social media.
Mark your calendars: Borderlands 4 is set to launch on September 23, 2025, and will be available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
