"Borderlands Hit with Review Bombing Post-EULA Update"

The Borderlands franchise is facing a wave of negative reviews following recent changes to the End User License Agreement (EULA) by publisher Take-Two Interactive. This article delves into the community's reaction and what these changes could mean for the future of the series.

Borderlands Games Recent Reviews Are "Mixed" and "Mostly Negative"

Take-Two Terms of Service Changes

The beloved Borderlands series, including titles like Borderlands, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands 3, has been hit with a wave of negative reviews on Steam. This backlash came after fans discovered alterations to Take-Two Interactive's EULA, first highlighted by Reddit user Noob4Head on May 18. The changes, which were last updated on February 28 according to Take-Two’s terms of service website, have sparked significant controversy, especially due to the inclusion of what some users are calling "spyware" in the form of anti-cheat software.

Concerns have been raised about the updated EULA granting root-level access to users' machines, potentially allowing the collection of sensitive personal information such as passwords and contact details. While these claims are speculative and Take-Two has not yet issued a statement, the community's reaction has been swift and severe. The addition of anti-cheat software is particularly contentious given Borderlands' thriving modding community, which has played a significant role in the franchise's success. The impact of these changes on modding, privacy, and gameplay, as well as their relevance to the upcoming Borderlands 4, remains uncertain.

Possibly An Overreaction?

Despite the uproar, some fans argue that the reaction might be an overstatement. Reddit user Librask, for instance, noted, "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 broad, and not all changes may directly impact the Borderlands series. The EULA also emphasizes that Take-Two, as the product owner, reserves the right to update its agreement, giving users the option to either accept the new terms or cease using their services.

Root-level access is not uncommon in multiplayer games, particularly in highly competitive titles like League of Legends, Valorant, and Rainbow Six: Siege, where it's used to combat cheating. However, given that Borderlands does not primarily focus on PvP competition (beyond activities like speedrunning), the inclusion of such software has left many fans puzzled. The necessity of this addition, especially with Borderlands 4 on the horizon, is still under debate.

As the Borderlands community continues to voice its concerns, it remains to be seen how Take-Two will address the situation and whether they will reconsider the EULA changes. Meanwhile, the company is forging ahead with preparations for the release of Borderlands 4, the next installment in the looter-shooter series, set to launch on September 12, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.