Randy Pitchford embroiled in new scandal

The story of *Borderlands 4* began with a tweet from a fan of the series, expressing skepticism about the upcoming game. They noted that *Borderlands 4* visually mirrors *Borderlands 3* too closely and might face challenges due to a potential reduction in the marketing budget. The fan also drew a parallel to the unsuccessful *Borderlands* movie from 2024, which received harsh criticism from audiences and critics alike, including filmmaker Uwe Boll. Instead of engaging with the community, Randy Pitchford, head of Gearbox, responded by saying he "doesn't want to see this negativity" and planned to block the user to avoid stress. Later, he clarified that he had reconsidered and simply muted notifications from the account.

The situation intensified when popular streamer Gothalion encouraged the developer to be more open to criticism and respectful of long-time fans' opinions. In response, Pitchford dismissed the comment as "toxic pessimism" and stressed that developers are "killing themselves to entertain players," highlighting the immense pressure they face.

This behavior elicited mixed reactions within the *Borderlands* community. Some users supported Pitchford, acknowledging the pressures game developers endure. Others viewed his response as an avoidance of constructive dialogue, criticizing his emotional reaction. Many also recalled that this was not the first time Pitchford had made sharp remarks on social media.

*Borderlands 4* is set to be released on September 23, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the game will evolve and whether it can meet the high expectations set by its predecessors.