Randy Pitchford Clarifies $80 Borderlands 4 Comment: 'If You Want the Truth, Here It Is'

The backlash against Randy Pitchford's controversial statement about the $80 price tag for Borderlands 4 has intensified, with video game publishers seizing the opportunity to promote their own titles. In response to the uproar, Pitchford referenced his earlier comments on the game's pricing, stating, "If you want the truth, here it is."

Devolver Digital, known for its edgy marketing tactics, cleverly capitalized on the situation. The publisher, responsible for games like Hotline Miami and Cult of the Lamb, promoted their upcoming title Mycopunk by tweeting, "You're gonna be able to buy Mycopunk for you and three of your friends for the price of one copy of Borderlands 4." Pitchford retorted with his own tweet, saying, "Mycopunk is cheaper than a point of meth - probably has fewer side effects, too!" This response, however, was met with largely negative feedback from the community.

The original controversy stemmed from Pitchford's response to a fan's concern about the game's potential $80 price, where he said, "if you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen." He further elaborated by referencing his own experience of buying Starflight for Sega Genesis in 1991 for $80 while working minimum wage.

Amid the backlash, some fans expressed frustration, with comments like, "I am going to pirate Borderlands 4," and pleas for Pitchford to apologize, noting that his remarks were damaging the game's reputation and hurting the developers. One commenter emphasized the need for Pitchford to let fans support the game and its creators.

Pitchford has yet to retract his statement or apologize, but he pointed to a recent discussion at PAX East where he addressed the pricing of Borderlands 4. He admitted uncertainty about the final price but highlighted the increased development budget for Borderlands 4, which is more than double that of Borderlands 3. He also shared Gearbox's philosophy of wanting to provide value to players while ensuring the company has resources to create bigger and better games.

Pitchford's comments at PAX East were seen by some as a more appropriate response to the pricing issue. Streamer Moxsy, for instance, felt that Pitchford's initial response at PAX East was sufficient and that his subsequent remarks about fans' loyalty were harmful and unnecessary.

As anticipation builds for Borderlands 4, set to launch on September 12, 2025, publisher 2K Games is expected to announce the game's price when pre-orders begin. In a related interview, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick discussed the value of video games compared to other forms of entertainment, suggesting that consumers are willing to pay for high-quality experiences.

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