The conversation started when a Borderlands fan tweeted concerns about the upcoming title, pointing out its strong visual similarity to Borderlands 3 and questioning the game's marketing support in light of a potentially reduced budget. They also referenced the poorly received 2024 Borderlands movie, which was panned by viewers and critics alike, including Uwe Boll. Rather than addressing these points, Pitchford declared he "didn't want to see this negativity" and intended to block the user to sidestep the stress. He later updated his position, saying he had simply muted notifications from that account.
Matters intensified after popular streamer Gothalion encouraged the developer to be more receptive to critique and to value the input from the series' dedicated fanbase. In reply, Randy dismissed the comment as unconstructive, labeling it "toxic pessimism." He further stressed that the development team is working tirelessly, stating they are literally "killing themselves to entertain players."
These actions divided the community. Some users defended Pitchford, highlighting the intense pressure developers are under. Others, however, saw his remarks as a way to dodge meaningful conversation and described his conduct as overly emotional. Many also noted that this isn't the first time the head of Gearbox has made sharp comments on social media.
Borderlands 4 is scheduled to launch on September 23, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
