Borderlands 4's initial reveal didn't really garner the level of excitement that Gearbox Software and Take-Two Interactive were likely hoping for. Although there wasn't anything particularly bad about the game's first few trailers, they didn't stand out that much or contain any substantial gameplay footage. This, combined with the somewhat divisive reception to the series' earlier installments, Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, led many to be skeptical of Borderlands 4's quality. Thankfully, though, a recent gameplay deep dive has started to turn opinions around about the game.
Recently, Gearbox Software teamed up with Sony to host a PlayStation State of Play centered entirely around Borderlands 4. This presentation provided roughly 20 minutes of raw gameplay footage, as well as developer commentary detailing the new features in the game. Although some fans had low expectations for Borderlands 4 going into the State of Play, many of them were pleasantly surprised by what they saw. Unfortunately, this new-found enthusiasm for Borderlands 4 didn't last too long. Shortly after the State of Play took place, the game became the subject of controversy again due to some contentious comments made by Gearbox's co-founder, Randy Pitchford.
Borderlands Games Are Getting Review Bombed
Games from the acclaimed action role-playing game series Borderlands are currently being review-bombed by gamers looking to express an opinion.
Borderlands 4's Proposed $80 Price Tag Has Caused a Lot of Controversy
Gearbox Exec Randy Pitchford Stated that "Real Fans" Will Find a Way to Pay $80 for Borderlands 4
Last week, a user on Twitter asked Randy Pitchford if he could do something to prevent Borderlands 4 from being launched at $80, expressing concern that a high price tag could threaten the popularity of the game. In response, Pitchford stated that setting the prices for Borderlands 4 was "not his call," and that, even if it was, "real fans" would find a way to buy the game for $80 regardless. Pitchford noted that, back in 1991, he worked for "minimum wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Beach" to get the Sega Genesis version of Starflight for $80 at his local game store. Since he "found a way to make it happen" back then, he believes that players will do the same for Borderlands 4, as well.
Unsurprisingly, Pitchford's statements were met with a flood of negative responses from fans, as many were upset over his dismissive attitude. Some players believe that, no matter how good Borderlands 4 is, it isn't going to be worth $80, and it will be better to wait for a sale. It's worth noting, though, that Gearbox is not the only company that's considering releasing its games at $80. Microsoft and Nintendo have already announced their intent to ship certain titles at this new price point, and it's likely that many other publishers will follow suit.
Although Borderlands 4 Doesn't Have an Official Price Yet, It's Likely That It Will Cost $80
To be clear, the prices for Borderlands 4 have not been confirmed yet. In spite of Pitchford's comments, it's possible that the game will not be released at $80, but will cost $70 instead, just like most other recent AAA releases. That said, Gearbox and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, will likely opt to charge a higher price for the game, due to a multitude of factors. As Randy Pitchford stated during an interview at PAX East a few weeks ago , Borderlands 4 has "more than twice" the budget that 2019's Borderlands 3 had, which was released at only $60. Launching Borderlands 4 at $80, then, would probably allow the game to make its money back at a much faster rate.
At the end of the day, no one currently knows what Borderlands 4's retail price will be, not even Randy Pitchford himself. No matter what Gearbox settles on, though, Borderlands 4's price tag will directly affect its commercial performance. If the company chooses to release the game at $80, then it runs the risk of negatively impacting its sales numbers. However, if Borderlands 4 costs $70, then it may not generate enough revenue to satisfy Gearbox and Take-Two's executives, due to its increased development budget.
Borderlands 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
WHERE TO PLAY
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Crash into Kairos as one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities.
Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing Mayhem across the planet.
