Gearbox Legend Randy Pitchford Teases Massive New Project—Here’s What We Know So Far

Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Software and perennial showman behind the Borderlands franchise, ignited a fresh round of debate this week after telling fans that Borderlands 4 “won’t see a meaningful price cut or touch any subscription service for at least five years.” The statement, delivered on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the 95 percent Steam Summer Sale discount on Borderlands 3, immediately set social channels ablaze and put Pitchford’s monetization philosophy under a microscope. According to Pitchford, Borderlands 3’s bargain-basement price in 2025 proves that the series holds long-term value; it took more than five years before 2K Games approved such an aggressive markdown. He argued that the next installment should follow an even longer “premium window,” effectively ruling out early deals on Steam, Epic, or console storefronts. Pitchford also confirmed that Borderlands 4 will not launch on Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, or similar services “for a very, very long time.” The timing of the remarks is notable. Gearbox has yet to reveal a firm release date, but insiders suggest a late-2026 target following the upcoming Borderlands movie tie-in. Price chatter erupted earlier this month when retailers briefly listed an $80 deluxe edition as the sole physical SKU, sparking backlash that Pitchford later called “noise.” Industry analysts say the CEO is testing the waters for a higher MSRP at launch while anchoring expectations around slower price erosion. Community reaction ranges from vocal frustration to guarded optimism. Some fans applaud Gearbox for defending perceived value in an era of day-one discount bundles, while others accuse Pitchford of ignoring widening affordability gaps. Threads on Reddit and ResetEra highlight concerns that a multi-year freeze on sales could fragment the player base, especially if year-one DLC follows the $30 season-pass model of prior entries. Publishers across the industry are watching closely. Capcom, Square Enix, and Nintendo have all floated “extended premium periods” for marquee releases, but none have committed to a half-decade moratorium on discounts. Should Borderlands 4 ship at $70–$80 and maintain full price through 2031, it could establish a controversial new standard—or prove untenable if sales plateau. For now, Pitchford is doubling down. “Great art is worth the price,” he tweeted. Whether gamers agree will become clear when Borderlands 4 finally emerges from the vault.