Randy Pitchford Clarifies $80 Borderlands 4 Comment: 'Here's the Truth'

The controversy surrounding Randy Pitchford's comments on the potential $80 price tag for Borderlands 4 has intensified, drawing responses from both gamers and other video game publishers. Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox Software, initially sparked backlash by suggesting that true fans would find a way to afford the game, referencing his own experience with Starflight on the Sega Genesis.

Devolver Digital, known for its edgy marketing, capitalized on the situation to promote its upcoming game, Mycopunk. They humorously claimed that players could buy Mycopunk for themselves and three friends for the price of one Borderlands 4. Pitchford responded to Devolver's tweet with a quip about Mycopunk being cheaper than meth, which received largely negative feedback from the community. Many fans expressed frustration, with some even threatening to pirate Borderlands 4 and others urging Pitchford to apologize and focus on the game's quality.

Despite the outcry, Pitchford has not retracted his statement but instead referred to a recent PAX East panel where he discussed the pricing of Borderlands 4. He admitted uncertainty about the final price but highlighted the increased development budget, which is more than double that of Borderlands 3. He emphasized the entertainment value and the philosophy behind pricing, stating that Gearbox aims to provide the best value possible while ensuring they have the resources to create bigger and better games.

The backlash has been significant, with fans and streamers like Moxsy pointing out that the issue isn't just the price, but Pitchford's dismissive attitude toward fans' concerns. The community wants to feel that the price of Borderlands 4 is justified by the game's ambition, passion, and quality.

As Borderlands 4 is set to launch on September 12, 2025, 2K Games is expected to reveal the official price soon. Meanwhile, Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick remains non-committal about adopting an $80 price point but stressed the company's focus on delivering exceptional value to consumers.

Randy Pitchford's recent comments sparked a backlash online. Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Lionsgate.

In a related interview, Zelnick emphasized the high value of video games compared to other forms of entertainment and the company's commitment to offering the best possible experience to justify any price point.

Would you pay $80 for the latest blockbuster game?

Yes

No