Randy Pitchford’s Online Outbursts Overshadow Borderlands 4 Launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 Dev Shows Sympathy for Gearbox Team
Borderlands 4 is officially out, and while it has seen solid critical and commercial reception, the launch has been marred by a host of technical issues. That in itself is nothing new for a large-scale AAA release, but what has made matters worse is how Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has chosen to respond publicly.
Pitchford, known for his outspoken and often controversial online presence, has once again drawn attention away from the development team’s work by blaming “4K stubborn” players for performance issues. While most studios focus solely on patches and damage control, Gearbox has had to deal with its own boss inflaming frustrations further.
This is not the first time Pitchford’s comments have caused a stir during Borderlands 4’s launch cycle. Earlier this year, his remarks about the game’s pricing structure sparked heated debate. Now, his response to technical performance complaints has led to renewed backlash, with some players feeling dismissed rather than reassured.
Pitchford has even gone as far as telling dissatisfied customers they can “please get a refund from Steam,” an unusually blunt response for a studio head.
You can do whatever you want. The game is the game. Please get a refund from Steam if you aren't happy with it. You made an analogy to a vehicle. I would not put a Ferrari engine in a monster truck and expect it to drive like a Ferrari. If you tell me about your specification, I…
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) September 16, 2025
The controversy has drawn the attention of other developers in the industry. Michael Douse, Publishing Director at Larian Studios (the team behind Baldur’s Gate 3), commented on the situation via X, writing:
“Just lock Randy in a cupboard for 6 months.”
Just lock Randy in a cupboard for 6 months https://t.co/rULjKr4yPW
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) September 15, 2025
Douse later clarified that while some fans appreciate Pitchford’s “honesty” compared to corporate-approved statements, his concern is for the Gearbox team:
“I feel bad for his teams who are just trying really hard to make players happy.”
The Reality of Game Development vs. Player Expectations
Pitchford’s candid defense of his studio highlights a real truth, game development is hard. Even the biggest studios miss bugs, balance issues, and performance hiccups at launch. Yet, Borderlands 4’s problems extend beyond minor hiccups, with reports of frequent crashes and widespread instability.
Players spending full price on a new release understandably expect a smoother experience, and while Gearbox is working on fixes, the combination of technical shortcomings and executive outbursts has left a sour impression.
Do you think Randy Pitchford’s blunt honesty is refreshing compared to typical PR responses, or does it only make life harder for the developers working to fix Borderlands 4?
