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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

As widely publicised on Reddit, the review-bombing campaign began in response to the updated EULA, which reportedly grants Take-Two "root level access to users' systems, under the guise of anti-cheat software". As a result, users are concerned that sensitive information like passwords, IP addresses, and login details are being unfairly collected.

In addition to privacy concerns, the new agreement also raised fears in the game's modding community, with many users citing that targeting third-party applications could introduce unnecessary limitations to legitimate gameplay modifications.

While the uproar has noticeably impacted the game's review scores, the sentiment on whether the reaction is justified remains mixed. Some users argue that the new EULA borders on "spyware," while others highlight that it is not substantially different from the previous versions and that the updates largely align with industry standards.

Regardless, reviews for the games, which previously held a "very positive" rating on Steam, now vary between "mixed" and "mostly negative".

TL;DR: The Borderlands franchise faces review bombing on Steam due to a controversial EULA update granting Take-Two root-level system access, raising privacy and modding concerns.

Source - TweakTown

 

[MakeMudosGreatAgain]

Is this on top of the weak writing and lazy gameplay loop?

 

[DeepEnigma]

 

[Magic Carpet]

I have a feeling this isn't about Borderlands. This is a warning shot before the release of GTA 6.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

I have a feeling this isn't about Borderlands. This is a warning shot before the release of GTA 6.

Not in the slightest for me, I went to reinstall the 2nd two weeks ago on Steam and saw this Bullshit now attached to the game. I didn't bother

Utterly shit this is.

 

[winjer]

WTF, they are trying to make Borderlands an entry point for malware.
Fucking idiots.

From one of the Steam reviews:

Borderlands aka Take-two and 2K games have updated their games even their older games. THIS INCLUDES COLLECTS USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS, IP LOCATIONS AND BROWSER HISTORY DATA.

Important Info in ToS:
• Mods are a bannable offense
• Display of Cheats/Exploits is bannable
• Forced arbitration so long as it is permitted in your region
• You can be banned for the using a VPN while connecting to online servers
• Cannot access game content on a Virtual PC
• Best last they reserve the right to modify this Agreement, in whole or in part, at any time

A company who's CEO was accused of leaving a USB with illegal material on it as well as sensitive data of Gearbox/2K partners in a medieval themed restaurant wants all your delectable data and will never let anyone gain access to your data intentionally or not. ᴾʳᵒᵐᶦˢᵉ

Collected Data Types:
• Identifiers / Contact Information: Name, user name, gamertag, postal and email address, phone number, unique IDs, mobile device ID, platform ID, gaming service ID, advertising ID (IDFA, Android ID) and IP address
• Protected Characteristics: Age and gender
• Commercial Information: Purchase and usage history and preferences, including gameplay information
• Billing Information: Payment information (credit / debit card information) and shipping address
• Internet / Electronic Activity: Web / app browsing and gameplay information related to the Services; information about your online interaction(s) with the Services or our advertising; and details about the games and platforms you use and other information related to installed applications
• Device and Usage Data: Device type, software and hardware details, language settings, browser type and version, operating system, and information about how users use and interact with the Services (e.g., content viewed, pages visited, clicks, scrolls)
• Profile Inferences: Inferences made from your information and web activity to help create a personalized profile so we can identify goods and services that may be of interest
• Audio / Visual Information: Account photos, images, and avatars, audio information via chat features and functionality, and gameplay recordings and video footage (such as when you participate in playtesting)
• Sensitive Information: Precise location information (if you allow the Services to collect your location), account credentials (user name and password), and contents of communications via chat features and functionality.

 

[hemo memo]

updated EULA, which reportedly grants Take-Two "root level access to users' systems, under the guise of anti-cheat software".

?? Seriously

 

[pudel]

WTF, they are trying to make Borderlands an entry point for malware.
Fucking idiots.

From one of the Steam reviews:

Damn...the steam review infos are quite interesting. But I am not sure if other launchers and games are not doing this shit already. Thats why I try to keep away from games which just even need some kind of online connection or extra launchers. I mean its ridiculous that you have to agree to be spied out completely just to play a fckn videogame.

 

[winjer]

Damn...the steam review infos are quite interesting. But I am not sure if other launchers and games are not doing this shit already. Thats why I try to keep away from games which just even need some kind of online connection or extra launchers. I mean its ridiculous that you have to agree to be spied out completely just to play a fckn videogame.

There are more, for sure. But not that many and not this bad.
I only know about Valorant, that could be considered just as bad as this, maybe worse.

 

[Super Lemon Drop]

Whenever games ask to collect my data, I decline. If it means I cannot play the game, so be it. It is a video game; there is no need to monitor what I'm doing. I am playing interactive software to relax from the insane stress of my career and life. If that means being a data source for advertising and now taking my actual information, they can promptly fuck off.

 

[Zacfoldor]

I have a feeling this isn't about Borderlands. This is a warning shot before the release of GTA 6.

I dunno dude. Would you rather be in the woods with a bear or Randy Pitchford?

 

[Knightime_X]

If you pirate a game you already paid for, is it stealing?
Just let me decline, and play solely offline.

 

[Magic Carpet]

I dunno dude. Would you rather be in the woods with a bear or Randy Pitchford?

100 Men vs 1 Randy Pitchford.
Pitchford gets a running start.

 

[CliffBronger]

If you pirate a game you already paid for, is it stealing?
Just let me decline, and play solely offline.

Backups are legal.

I have many backups of games i own on external HD's

 

[justiceiro]

Isn't borderlands a PvE game ? What kind of cheating they would be trying to prevent? Sounds like T2 is just pulling some bullshit.

 

[Generic]

Mods are a bannable offense

This is next level bullshit.

 

[Boo Who?]

GTAV and RDR2 have this bullshit as well?

 

[DeepEnigma]

GTAV and RDR2 have this bullshit as well?

Negative.

 

[phant0m]

This level of anti cheat for a fucking co-op shlooter is absolutely uncalled for

 

[Pop]

Its a primary solo offline game with optional co-op

Whats the need for this besides spying on their users

 

[Kilau]

Isn't borderlands a PvE game ? What kind of cheating they would be trying to prevent? Sounds like T2 is just pulling some bullshit.

They want PC locked down like consoles so they can sell you the "cheats".

 

[Rivdoric]

They want PC locked down like consoles so they can sell you the "cheats".

Bethesda paved the way when they tried with Fallout 4 if i recall.

Industry has been trying to find a way to make PC players deem purchasing mods as acceptable for years now.

One day or the other, they are going to find how.

Hogwart's Legacy introduced it's own "marketplace" for modding now. It's free yes, but i bet they are up to something for Legacy 2.

 

[Soodanim]

From reading the Reddit comments, it seems that:

• This is a Take Two TOS, so won't be Borderlands specific
• It's probably there in advance of GTA6
• Certain online Rockstar games already have anti-cheat stuff, but not BL2-3

Stopping for a second and being rational about this: although this TOS sounds very OTT, is there ANY proof that BL games have been updated to include extra software? If not, how are T2 or 2K collecting the wide array of data the EULA covers? It will only get it through navigating their website(s) and tracking cookies or by having some extremely invasive spyware - the latter of which I haven't seen evidence of yet.

Right now this seems overblown in terms of actual risk to consumers,

Spoiler

3 of the videos that will be in large part behind this, all from a YouTuber named Hellfire, with the last having ~500k views:

I'm all for anything that counteracts ever more aggressive EULAs and methods by companies that want to encroach on pretty much anything they can, but I am waiting on the proof that turns "We can do things" into "We are doing things". Makes more sense for future releases than historical, and I'll simply go nowhere near those.

 

[CGNoire]

"while others highlight that it is not substantially different from the previous versions and that the updates largely align with industry standards."

"But Everybodies Doing it."........
Ggggrrrhhh... nothing pisses me off like this Bullshit reasoning.

 

[Labadal]

Does this sort of thing also apply to console versions? I have Borderlands 3 installed on my PS5.

 

[Itchy Tickles]

None of those negatives reviews are from "true fans" I bet.....

As Gamers Express Concern About Borderlands 4 Potentially Costing $80, Gearbox Chief Randy Pitchford Says: ‘If You’re a Real Fan, You’ll Find a Way to Make It Happen’ - IGN

Gearbox chief Randy Pitchford has responded to a fan who expressed concern about the prospect of paying $80 for Borderlands 4, saying: “if you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”

www.ign.com

God damn, these companies make it easy to hate them.

 

[Loomy]

None of those negatives reviews are from "true fans" I bet.....

As Gamers Express Concern About Borderlands 4 Potentially Costing $80, Gearbox Chief Randy Pitchford Says: ‘If You’re a Real Fan, You’ll Find a Way to Make It Happen’ - IGN

Gearbox chief Randy Pitchford has responded to a fan who expressed concern about the prospect of paying $80 for Borderlands 4, saying: “if you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”

www.ign.com

God damn, these companies make it easy to hate them.

Shades of "you may have to get a second job to afford a PS3".

Are the same updates being made for European versions of their games? I'm wondering if some of this violates GDPR.

 

[Closer]

I dunno dude. Would you rather be in the woods with a bear or Randy Pitchford?

How hot is the bear?

 

[xrnzaaas]

Fuck them, they fully deserve that review bombing. It's not even a competitive game to protect fair online matches or stuff like that, absolutely no excuse here to install spyware to "protect people from cheaters".

 

[DryvBy]

I have a feeling this isn't about Borderlands. This is a warning shot before the release of GTA 6.

GTA 6 isn't even coming to PC next year. Borderlands 4 is their next big game.

 

[LakeOf9]

Take 2 is such a garbage company, it fucking sucks they have so many legendary brands (and also Borderlands) in their grip

 

[IAmRei]

nay, forr me, this franchise is beyond salvation : ))

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Who the fuck would ever tolerate root level access to their PC for a video game?

 

[vodka-bull]

Well deserved I'd say. Don't fuck wirh PCMR!

 

[NickFire]

This level of anti cheat for a fucking co-op shlooter is absolutely uncalled for

This 100%. I could feel sympathy for the devs and completely understand people negatively reviewing the changes if we were talking about competitive multiplayer. But no way is this necessary for this game.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Root level access to my computer?
Who's defending this…let's see…

 

[StereoVsn]

WTF, they are trying to make Borderlands an entry point for malware.
Fucking idiots.

From one of the Steam reviews:

Yep, uninstalled all their games from my system. To say this is ridiculous is an understatement. Fuck Take 2 and the horse they rode in on.

 

[StereoVsn]

From reading the Reddit comments, it seems that:

• This is a Take Two TOS, so won't be Borderlands specific
• It's probably there in advance of GTA6
• Certain online Rockstar games already have anti-cheat stuff, but not BL2-3

Stopping for a second and being rational about this: although this TOS sounds very OTT, is there ANY proof that BL games have been updated to include extra software? If not, how are T2 or 2K collecting the wide array of data the EULA covers? It will only get it through navigating their website(s) and tracking cookies or by having some extremely invasive spyware - the latter of which I haven't seen evidence of yet.

Right now this seems overblown in terms of actual risk to consumers,

Spoiler

3 of the videos that will be in large part behind this, all from a YouTuber named Hellfire, with the last having ~500k views:

I'm all for anything that counteracts ever more aggressive EULAs and methods by companies that want to encroach on pretty much anything they can, but I am waiting on the proof that turns "We can do things" into "We are doing things". Makes more sense for future releases than historical, and I'll simply go nowhere near those.

I don't care. This EULA is inexcusable and you don't know when the god damn stupid thing can get patched in with a random update.

They deserve all the negative reviews they are getting.

 

[Last Hearth]

WTF, they are trying to make Borderlands an entry point for malware.
Fucking idiots.

From one of the Steam reviews:

this doesn't look like a TOS. It looks like a indentured servant contract.

 

[JayK47]

Any updates on this? I am surprised there are only 40 responses.

 

[EverydayBeast]

 

[Soodanim]

Is that your video?

 

[ZoukGalaxy]

Hello Fitgirl repack and firewall (or offline) for all Take Two games on a dedicated PC to games.

Note: I don't prone piracy, it's just a joke (even illegally downloaded games can steal your data as long your are online and don't have enough technical knowledge to understand how to protect your machine and data).

More seriously, this EULA is totally inacceptable.

 

[Barakov]

Hello Fitgirl repack and firewall (or offline) for all Take Two games on a dedicated PC to games.

Note: I don't prone piracy, it's just a joke (even illegally downloaded games can steal your data as long your are online and don't have enough technical knowledge to understand how to protect your machine and data).

More seriously, this EULA is totally inacceptable.