Randy Pitchford: Borderlands 4 Release Date Set Without Considering Other Games

Randy Pitchford, the development chief at Gearbox, has firmly stated that the decision to advance the release date of Borderlands 4 was not influenced by the launch schedules of other games, such as Marathon or Grand Theft Auto 6. Originally slated for a September 23 release, Borderlands 4 will now hit the shelves on September 12 across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

This shift of 11 days has fueled speculation that the release date adjustment might be a strategic move by Take-Two, the parent company of both Gearbox and Rockstar (the developer of GTA 6), to avoid competition with GTA 6, which is still scheduled for a fall 2025 launch. Additionally, there was chatter about a potential clash with Bungie’s Marathon, another co-op focused extraction shooter set to release on the same original date, September 23, 2025. Borderlands 4 is set to feature in its own PlayStation State of Play broadcast on April 30 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 11pm CEST.

However, Pitchford took to social media to clarify that the decision to bring Borderlands 4 forward was solely based on "confidence" and the game's "development trajectory." He emphasized that the move had "0% to do with any other product's actual or theoretical launch date."

While it's uncommon for games to move their release dates forward (delays are far more typical), Chris Dring, Editor-In-Chief and Co-Founder of The Game Business, expressed skepticism about the decision if it truly wasn't influenced by other games' release dates. He noted the logistical challenges and costs associated with changing a release date after it has been widely publicized.

In a video message released early, Pitchford shared the news of the earlier release, expressing excitement and describing the development as a "best-case scenario." He highlighted the high quality of the game and the team's performance as reasons for the decision.

It's important to note that Borderlands 4 is published by 2K Games, which, along with Gearbox and the Borderlands IP, is owned by Take-Two. This conglomerate also includes Rockstar, the developer of GTA 6. At the executive level, including CEO Strauss Zelnick, there is likely an overarching strategy to manage the release schedules of all Take-Two's games to maximize their success and avoid cannibalization.

In an interview with IGN, Zelnick discussed the company's approach to game releases, emphasizing the need to respect consumers' time with hit games before moving on to the next. He expressed confidence in the timing strategy and hinted at the broader industry benefit of having multiple hit games, though he hoped most would be from Take-Two.

Amidst this, there's ongoing speculation about potential delays for GTA 6, possibly pushing its release into early winter or the first quarter of 2026. Zelnick acknowledged the inherent risks of delays but remained optimistic about meeting the fall 2025 target for GTA 6.