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. Initially, Pitchford responded by stating he didn't want to see negativity and planned to block the user. He later clarified he only muted notifications.
This led to popular streamer Gothalion urging Pitchford to be more receptive to criticism. Pitchford countered, dismissing the comment as "toxic pessimism" and emphasizing the developers' dedication and hard work.
This response divided the community. Some sympathized with Pitchford, highlighting the pressures on game developers. Others criticized his dismissal of constructive criticism and perceived emotional reaction, noting this wasn't an isolated incident of sharp social media commentary from the Gearbox head.
Borderlands 4 launches September 23, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
