A scorching potato: After managing to bother just about all people earlier this week when he stated that “actual followers” would discover a option to pay money for Borderland 4, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has addressed the controversy. However, as is all the time the case with CEOs, he by no means instantly apologized.
The scenario began when Pitchford posted on X that he was excited on the prospect of bringing the upcoming Borderlands 4 to the Nintendo Change 2.
A fan responded to the message, expressing considerations that the sport could be priced at $80, one thing they stated a variety of players would not pay. Additionally they stated the CEO should certainly have some affect within the pricing resolution.
Pitchford’s response was, “A) Not my name. B) When you’re an actual fan, you may discover a option to make it occur. My native recreation retailer had Starflight for Sega Genesis for $80 in 1991 after I was simply out of highschool working minimal wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Seashore and I discovered a option to make it occur.”
A) Not my name. B) When you’re an actual fan, you may discover a option to make it occur. My native recreation retailer had Starflight for Sega Genesis for $80 in 1991 after I was simply out of highschool working minimal wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Seashore and I discovered a option to make it occur.
– Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) Could 14, 2025
This clearly did not go down properly, particularly with the one that wrote the remark, who famous that they’d bought each Borderlands-related launch since 2009.
In a follow-up publish on the topic, Pitchford included a video from a earlier interview during which he was requested how a lot Borderlands 4 would retail for.
“It is an fascinating time, proper,” Pitchford stated. “On one stage, we have got a aggressive market place. The individuals who make these selections wish to promote as many items as attainable, they usually wish to watch out about people who find themselves value delicate. So, there are some people who do not wish to see costs go up, even those deciding what the costs are.”
Pitchford added that there are additionally those that settle for the very fact recreation budgets are growing – Borderlands 4 has greater than twice the price range of its predecessor – “and there is tariffs for the retail packaging” to think about.
“This is the philosophy we now have, regardless of the value is: we’re entertainers. Sure, we wish to get extra assets so we will increase and higher video games – there’s a purpose why Borderlands 4 is so superior,” Pitchford continued. “It is since you guys confirmed up and supported Borderlands 3. And, we had the price range, we may greater than double the price range and really feel assured in that.”
Pitchford completed by stating that Borderlands 4 may land with the “new value that Nintendo and Microsoft have led with,” i.e., $80, or “it may be that we keep again.” However both approach, “it should be the folks on the publishing home that determine that.”
In order for you the reality, right here it’s: pic.twitter.com/3bqdA5gIU2
– Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) Could 21, 2025
In his newest and what seems like remaining publish on the matter, Pitchford gave concerning the closest factor to an apology he is more likely to provide.
“In seriousness although, no person likes being taken as a right and it was not my intent. I am humbled by the love and help everybody has proven the crew as we push laborious to get this superb recreation in your fingers. They’re crushing it, and I am unable to wait for everybody to play what is going on to be one of the best Borderlands ever! No matter the place the worth lands, it should be value it after which some.”
Boy howdy, JackGPT, is that how I sound? My unhealthy, however cheers to Duke_Newcombe and @Mohsyog for the funniest factor I will learn right this moment!
In seriousness although, no person likes being taken as a right and it was not my intent. I am humbled by the love and help everybody has proven… https://t.co/jWtNh9YpPX
– Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) Could 22, 2025
It was revealed in April that each first-party Nintendo Change 2 recreation will value $70 or $80 – even the outdated ones – which the corporate blames on upgrades, inflation, and tariffs. Quickly after, Microsoft introduced enormous will increase for Xbox {hardware} and that its video games would value $80.
As Pitchford mentions, recreation budgets are getting bigger, and the cash to pay for them has to return from someplace. Corporations argue that extra money makes for higher video games, however the three best-reviewed titles of 2025 thus far – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Break up Fiction, and Blue Prince – are all price range video games.
