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 budget cuts sparked a controversy involving Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford. The fan noted parallels to the poorly-received Borderlands movie. Instead of engaging, Pitchford initially stated he would block the user to avoid negativity, later clarifying he only muted notifications.

This prompted streamer Gothalion to urge Pitchford to be more receptive to criticism from longtime fans. Pitchford responded by dismissing the criticism as "toxic pessimism," emphasizing the developers' dedication and hard work.

This response divided the community. Some sympathized with Pitchford, highlighting the pressures faced by game developers. Others criticized his dismissive tone, viewing it as an avoidance of constructive feedback and pointing out his history of contentious social media interactions.

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