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 with Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford. The fan noted parallels to the poorly-received Borderlands film. Initially, Pitchford responded by stating he didn't want to see negativity and planned to block the user. He later clarified this as muting notifications.
This led streamer Gothalion to urge Pitchford to be more receptive to criticism and respectful of longtime fans. Pitchford countered, dismissing the comment as "toxic pessimism" and emphasizing the intense pressure on developers. This response divided the community. Some sympathized with the pressures faced by developers, while others criticized Pitchford's perceived dismissiveness and emotional reaction, noting this wasn't his first instance of sharp social media commentary.
Borderlands 4 is scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
