Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford is right back in the spotlight over what many are considering to be rude comments about Borderlands 4's prospective post-release discounts. The fourth mainline installment in Gearbox's sci-fi looter shooter franchise, Borderlands 4 is arguably one of the biggest game releases of 2025 and seems to be a satisfactory entry according to early previews.
Randy Pitchford most recently found himself in boiling hot water just last month after comments over Borderlands 4's potential price tag drew the ire of gamers and Borderlands fans. Pitchford responded to a fan who was concerned over the possibility of Borderlands 4 costing $80, as has been the unfortunate trend recently with games like Nintendo's Mario Kart World and Xbox's The Outer Worlds 2, saying that real fans would "find a way to make it happen," regardless of what the game's price ends up being. This caused a flurry of negativity and backlash, eventually leading to Pitchford's apology. Thankfully, Gearbox and 2K later confirmed Borderlands 4's price of $70, settling fans' fears of a higher cost.
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PostsWith all that in the rearview, it seems Randy Pitchford has fanned even more flames. On Twitter, Pitchford quote-tweeted a post by the official Borderlands account letting fans know of Borderlands 3's impressive 95% discount in the Steam Summer Sale, saying "Sales like this and Borderlands 3 showing up on console subscription programs took over 5 years from the game's launch to happen...it will be even longer before this kind of thing happens in the next cycle with Borderlands 4." Pitchford seems to be predicting that it will take much longer for Borderlands 4 to show up in deep sales and subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus than it took its mainline predecessor, leading to a flurry of outrage from Borderlands fans under the tweet.
Randy Pitchford Thinks It'll Be a While Before Borderlands 4 Hits Deep Sales
Like with most other AAA games, the time it takes after Borderlands 4's release to be heavily discounted will depend entirely on the game's critical and commercial success. If Borderlands 4 reviews and sells poorly, it'll very likely be put on sale much sooner than if it turns out to be a critical success and a big sales hit. With Borderlands 3's mixed-to-poor reception back in 2019 in mind, it seems Pitchford has more faith in Borderlands 4 this time around if he's expecting that it'll take longer to be hit with huge discounts. Pitchford reminded angry fans that he doesn't have the power to set prices or greenlight discounts, and that he's essentially just trying to predict Borderlands 4's future.
Close...it will be even longer before this kind of thing happens in the next cycle with Borderlands 4.
Borderlands 4 is set for a September 12 release and is coming to Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC, with the Nintendo Switch 2 version coming later in the year. As for Borderlands 3, it'll remain just $2.99 until July 10 as part of the Steam Summer Sale, so those who have yet to play the threequel would be wise to jump on it before the offer ends.
