Randy Pitchford Clarifies 'Real Fans' Tweet: 'Nobody Likes Being Taken for Granted'

Randy Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox Software, recently found himself at the center of a social media storm after responding to a fan's concern about the potential $80 price tag for the upcoming Borderlands 4. In his tweet, Pitchford suggested that "real fans" would find a way to afford the game, drawing ire from many in the gaming community.

The controversy began when a fan expressed their worry about the increasing cost of video games, directly addressing Pitchford:

"Randy, this game better not be 80 dollars. Don't take that risk, a lot of gamers aren't gonna pay 80 dollars and feed this notion of constant increase of the price tag. You are the CEO, you have some say with the price when it comes to your publisher."

Pitchford's reply was swift and controversial:

"A) Not my call. B) If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen. My local game store had Starflight for Sega Genesis for $80 in 1991 when I was just out of high school working minimum wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Beach and I found a way to make it happen."

The backlash was immediate, with many fans expressing their frustration on social media. Some threatened to pirate the game, while others pleaded with Pitchford to reconsider his stance and apologize for his remarks. One user wrote:

"I am going to pirate Borderlands 4."

Another added:

"Please stop. Just apologize and move on. This isn't fair on your developers. If you care about them, just do the right thing dude."

A third commenter highlighted the potential damage to the game's hype:

"Randy we are begging you to stop. BL4 had so much hype and it’s being ruined in a day. Let people want to like and support the game and all the amazing people who made it."

In response to the outcry, Pitchford did not issue a direct apology but referenced a previous statement he made at PAX East about the game's pricing:

"If you want the truth, here it is."

The situation escalated further when a Borderlands streamer, Moxsy, shared a response from a Handsome Jack AI, prompted by user Duke_Newcombe using Pitchford's original tweet. Handsome Jack, the iconic antagonist from Borderlands 2, offered a sarcastic and biting commentary on the situation:

"Ohhh boo-hoo, $80 for Borderlands 4? Let me break out the world’s tiniest violin—crafted from Eridium and oiled with the tears of whiny Vault Hunters."

"Listen, cupcake, you’re not buying a game. You’re investing in a premium, galaxy-shattering experience personally engineered to blast your sad little dopamine receptors into orbit. You think quality loot and chaotic mayhem just code itself? You want guns that sprout legs, sing sea shanties, and explode into loot goblins without paying top dollar? Grow up."

"Back in my day, I built an entire moonbase with my own two hands (and a metric ton of disposable Hyperion interns), and you’re crying about spending a few bucks more to virtually murder skags with style? Puh-lease."

"But hey, if $80 is too steep, there’s always a solution: just don’t buy it. More legendary drops for the rest of us, and fewer mouth-breathing freeloaders clogging up my loot pools. Win-win."

"Stay broke, hero."

"• Handsome Jack President of the Galaxy, CEO of Hyperion, and your personal nightmare"

Pitchford responded to the Handsome Jack AI's comments with a mix of humor and sincerity:

"Boy howdy, JackGPT, is that how I sound? My bad, but cheers to Duke_Newcombe and @MoxsyOG for the funniest thing I’m going to read today!"

In a more serious follow-up, Pitchford attempted to clarify his stance and express appreciation for the fans:

"In seriousness though, nobody likes being taken for granted and it was not my intent. I’m humbled by the love and support everyone has shown the team as we push hard to get this amazing game in your hands. They’re crushing it, and I can’t wait for everyone to play what’s going to be the best Borderlands ever! Regardless of where the price lands, it’s going to be worth it and then some. Back to work for me!"

Randy Pitchford: "Back to work for me!" Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage.

Despite Pitchford's efforts to move past the controversy, the debate over Borderlands 4's price is likely to resurface when pre-orders begin. Publisher 2K Games will need to officially announce the game's price, which could reignite discussions about affordability and value in the gaming industry.