Randy Pitchford Makes Statement on Borderlands 4 Pricing Controversy

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Summary

  • Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford‘s controversial response to a fan’s concern about the price of Borderlands 4 sparked a negative backlash.
  • Despite negative reception, past social media disputes involving Pitchford have seemingly not impacted Gearbox game sales.
  • Some games, including Borderlands 4, may have an $80 price tag due to increasing development budgets.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been keeping tabs on the ongoing chatter about video game prices creeping up. Just like many others, I was intrigued when Randy Pitchford, the head honcho at Gearbox, weighed in on this topic recently. He joined the conversation that started simmering when it was announced that some games might cost an extra Hamilton or two more.

This trend has been brewing for a while now, but it gained momentum with Nintendo’s reveal of Switch 2 and the news that certain titles would retail at $80. Now, with Borderlands 4 on the horizon, I couldn’t help but voice my concern. Hoping to get a glimpse into the game’s pricing, I directly tweeted Randy, expressing my hope that the game won’t set me back by $80.

In response, Pitchford stated, “If you truly love what you’re a fan of, you’ll figure out how to make it work.” To illustrate the extent of commitment expected, the CEO of Gearbox shared that in 1991 he worked at an ice cream shop for minimum wage in order to purchase a copy of Starflight for the Sega Genesis. However, the reaction to this statement was far from positive, and Pitchford faced numerous bewildered and angry responses instead.

A few days after the backlash over his tweet, Randy Pitchford addressed the criticism, acknowledging that the substantial cost of developing Borderlands 4 might lead to a price hike. However, the controversy continues, and on May 28, Pitchford made another attempt to clarify his statement via a lengthy Twitter post. In this explanation, he expressed remorse for any confusion, stating, “I genuinely don’t want anyone to pay more than they should or are comfortable with.

Randy Pitchford Responds Again to Borderlands 4 Price Controversy

Randy admitted that his comment about “real fans” contributed to the criticism he received. But he clarified that he had meant to assure everyone that the release of Borderlands 4 would be successful, despite a potential price hike up to $80. The studio head further emphasized that any decision on an increase in price is not his own, and he expressed thanks to all who appreciate Gearbox games and stand by the team.

In a second try to smooth over the criticism, Pitchford’s actions seem to have satisfied some individuals, while others have dismissed them outright. Some people have used words like “gaslighting,” but there are also supporters who acknowledge that video game prices will likely increase and blame this on factors beyond just one person, regardless of any inflammatory remarks made.

Pitchford isn’t a stranger to stirring up controversy, often getting involved in heated social media debates, which has tarnished his image somewhat. However, in the past, his controversial statements haven’t seemed to affect the sales of Gearbox releases. Given that the Borderlands games were review-bombed in May for reasons unrelated to Pitchford, it’s unlikely that this trend will change with the release of Borderlands 4, scheduled for 2025.

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2025-05-29 13:34