Randy Pitchford embroiled in new scandal

The narrative kicked off with a tweet from a passionate Borderlands fan, expressing skepticism about the upcoming installment in the franchise. They pointed out the visual similarities to Borderlands 3 and raised concerns about a potential cut in the marketing budget. Additionally, they likened the situation to the ill-fated Borderlands 2024 movie, which received harsh criticism from both audiences and critics, including the notorious Uwe Boll. Rather than engaging in a constructive conversation with the community, Randy Pitchford, head of Gearbox, declared that he "doesn't want to see this negativity" and initially planned to block the user to shield himself from undue stress. Later, he reconsidered and opted instead to mute notifications from that account.

Tensions rose when prominent streamer Gothalion encouraged the developer to embrace criticism and respect the views of the series' long-time fans. In response, Pitchford dismissed the comment as "toxic pessimism" and not constructive. He further stressed that developers are "killing themselves to entertain players," highlighting the immense pressure they face.

This stance triggered a range of reactions within the community. Some rallied behind Pitchford, acknowledging the intense pressures developers endure. Conversely, others viewed his comments as a sidestep from engaging in meaningful dialogue, labeling his reaction as overly emotional. Many also recalled that this wasn't the first instance of Pitchford making sharp comments on social media.

Borderlands 4 is slated for release on September 23, 2025, and will be available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.