Randy Pitchford Finds Himself in Another Scandal

A Borderlands fan's tweet questioning Borderlands 4's visual similarity to Borderlands 3 and expressing concerns about potential marketing limitations sparked a heated exchange with Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford. The fan also drew parallels to the poorly-received Borderlands film. Initially, Pitchford responded by stating he wished to avoid negativity and planned to block the user. He later clarified this as muting notifications.

This prompted popular streamer Gothalion to encourage Pitchford to engage more constructively with criticism from longtime fans. Pitchford countered, dismissing the comment as "toxic pessimism" and highlighting the intense pressure on developers. He emphasized the dedication developers pour into their work.

The incident generated a divided community response. Some sympathized with Pitchford, acknowledging the pressures faced by game developers. Others criticized his reaction as dismissive and overly emotional, noting this wasn't his first instance of sharp social media commentary.

Borderlands 4 is scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.