Randy Pitchford: Borderlands 4's Early Release Not Tied to Other Game Launches

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 release 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, available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

This 11-day shift has fueled speculation that the move might be a strategic response to the anticipated release of GTA 6 in the fall of 2025, especially considering that both games are under the umbrella of Take-Two Interactive. There was also chatter about a potential clash with Bungie's Marathon, another co-op focused shooter set to launch 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 Twitter to clarify that the decision to move Borderlands 4's release date forward was purely 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 not uncommon for game release dates to be adjusted, moving a release date forward is less typical than delays. Chris Dring, Editor-In-Chief and Co-Founder of The Game Business, expressed skepticism about the move, suggesting that if other games' release dates were not a factor, the decision seemed "a bit odd." He pointed out the logistical challenges of changing a well-publicized release date, noting that "Borderlands 4 release date" still showed September 23 on Google searches.

In a video message released early, Pitchford shared the news of the new release date with enthusiasm, stating that everything was going "great" and "kind of the best-case scenario." He highlighted the team's progress and the game's quality as reasons for the earlier launch, exclaiming, "What?! This never happens you guys! This never happens! We're moving the launch date forward! You're gonna get Borderlands 4 earlier!"

It's important to note that Borderlands 4 is published by 2K Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, which also owns Gearbox and the Borderlands IP, as well as Rockstar Games, the developer of GTA 6. At the executive level, including CEO Strauss Zelnick, there is likely a strategic overview of all game releases to maximize their success.

In a February interview with IGN, Zelnick discussed Take-Two's approach to release timing, emphasizing a strategy to avoid cannibalization and respect consumers' time with hit games. He expressed confidence in planning releases to ensure consumers can fully engage with each title before moving on to the next.

Amidst this, there's ongoing speculation about potential delays for GTA 6, possibly into early winter or the first quarter of 2026. Zelnick, while optimistic about meeting the fall 2025 target for GTA 6, acknowledged the inherent risks of delays in game development.