Randy Pitchford embroiled in new scandal

The buzz around the upcoming Borderlands 4 started with a tweet from a dedicated fan of the series. This fan raised concerns about the game's visual similarity to Borderlands 3 and speculated about potential challenges due to a possible reduction in the marketing budget. They also referenced the critically panned Borderlands 2024 movie, which received negative feedback from audiences, critics, and even the notorious filmmaker Uwe Boll. In response, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford initially expressed a desire to avoid "negativity" by considering blocking the fan to manage stress. However, he later opted to mute notifications from the account instead.

The situation intensified when well-known streamer Gothalion called on the developer to embrace criticism and respect the opinions of long-time fans. Pitchford, however, dismissed this feedback as "toxic pessimism" and stressed that developers are "killing themselves to entertain players," highlighting the intense pressure they face.

This response led to a divide in the community. Some rallied behind Pitchford, acknowledging the significant stress developers endure. Others criticized his reaction as an evasion of constructive dialogue, labeling it as overly emotional. Many also pointed out that this isn't the first instance of Pitchford making controversial remarks on social media.

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