Randy Pitchford embroiled in new controversy

The story of Borderlands 4 kicked off with a tweet from a dedicated fan of the series, expressing concerns about the upcoming installment. The fan pointed out that the game's visuals seemed too similar to Borderlands 3 and raised worries about a possible cut in the marketing budget. They also referenced the disappointing Borderlands 2024 movie, which received harsh criticism from audiences and critics alike—even the notorious Uwe Boll weighed in negatively. Rather than engaging with the community, Randy Pitchford, head of Gearbox, initially declared he "doesn't want to see this negativity" and planned to block the user to avoid stress. He later backtracked, opting instead to mute notifications from that account.

The controversy intensified when the well-known streamer Gothalion called on the developer to be more receptive to criticism and respectful of the opinions of long-time fans. In response, Randy Pitchford dismissed the feedback as "toxic pessimism" and not constructive. He went on to stress that developers are "killing themselves to entertain players," highlighting the intense pressure they face.

This exchange led to a range of reactions within the Borderlands community. Some rallied behind Pitchford, acknowledging the significant stress developers endure. Others viewed his response as an evasion of constructive dialogue, labeling it as overly emotional. Several users also recalled that this wasn't the first instance of Pitchford making sharp 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.