In a 557-word post to end all posts, Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford fully lays out the "misunderstanding" over Borderlands 4 $80 comments

havoc00

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Seemingly in hopes of finally settling the protracted brawl over his suggestion that a "real fan" would find a way to pay $80 for Borderlands 4 if it does end up hitting that price point, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford posted a veritable diatribe explaining what he was "trying" to say, the "shitty look" his post created, and his thoughts on rising game prices.

Ironically, this all started with another, comparably lengthy tweet about how Twitter interactions can spiral out of control on a platform that actively encourages outrage. "I mean, thanks for playing my games and thanks for the engagement and all that but, boy howdy, some of you really need to find some perspective and chill the f out," Pitchford said.

This naturally chummed the waters for still-disgruntled fans. One user replied: "I saw something crazy too. A CEO of Gearbox Software made players feel bad and alienated them for not wanting to pay $80 for his game. This platform IS wild."

"I am sorry there was a misunderstanding," he says. "The absolute sincere truth is that I don't want anyone to pay any more than they should or are comfortable with and I always work with the intent and hope that a customer always feels they got the better end of the deal no matter what they pay."

Pitchford claims "what I was trying to do" in his pricing discussion was explain that "it wasn't my call" how much Borderlands 4 costs, but "if a $10 price increase does happen" then "it will be okay [and] Borderlands 4 will be okay because it's a great game and there are a lot of fans who will see the value and want it."

The "real fans" comment was him "trying to shorthand" that, Pitchford insists, and "it got inflated as if I was making some big statement." Pitchford says it was just a passing remark, but he saw how some people interpreted it as him "taking the audience for granted," which he agrees is "a super shitty look, but it was not at all my intent and does not reflect at all how I feel."

Whatever Pitchford's alleged intent, let the record show that this was not at all an unfair interpretation. Players weren't the only ones to react to his comments this way; Baldur's Gate 3 dev Michael Douse called the "true fan" comment "gross" because it suggests that buying a game is more important than "making it day to day."

Keeping the posting pedal pressed to the floor and moving onto the topic of $80 games in general, Pitchford says "I don't want prices to go up because I want everyone to have access to what we create. I get that business is a thing and that the market and economy are driving prices up and sooner or later we're going to have to all adapt to that so that the creative engine can make at least as much as it spends to provide us with amazing content."

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This platform is wild.

A few years ago, I saw a video of a cat messing with a crab. The cat was pawing at it and the crab pinched the cat's claw and the cat just launched itself into the atmosphere.

It was insane.

The video made you feel everything that dark humor makes you feel in the strongest possible way.

So, I retweeted the video and by the time I looked at twitter again a day later, there were hundreds of people spending the intervening time arguing about how horrible a person I must be… they contrived that I must have enjoyed the cat's discomfort from the crab pinch and they invented this idea that I therefore probably wish harm and suffering to all animals and that I should probably be murdered along with my family because of it.

Wow.

Now, apparently, because I quote tweeted an AI goop fever dream of insanity, I must have been fooled by it (which is, btw, the worst crime imaginable), but somehow also I must be signaling that I am down for using AI for video games, and somehow also must just be a horrible person that cannot be trusted with twitter or, you know, any of the creativity I am actually responsible for that brings any of these people to even know who I am in the first place so they can give two shits about what goofy ass video I might be sharing while I sit on the toilet with my phone.

I mean, thanks for playing my games and thanks for the engagement and all that but, boy howdy, some of you really need to find some perspective and chill the f out.


@grok , can you just automatically block everyone in my replies who is a shit head?

Anyway, here's the real shit: never read the comments.
 
His original comment was stupid.

The whole reaction of "his comment was so gross, how DARE someone imply that buying a video game is important when so many can't afford rent or bottom surgery" was also stupid.

His backpedaling and trying to explain himself is also stupid.
 
If I'm CEO with my fake apology. I launch the game at $59.99 for the first month as a promo. $69.99 after. Call it "power to the fans" early adopters discount. Anything for positive press on it

Not that I'd be buying regardless unless it's $20. It's just not a good series sans the first one in my opinion
 
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This platform is wild.

A few years ago, I saw a video of a cat messing with a crab. The cat was pawing at it and the crab pinched the cat's claw and the cat just launched itself into the atmosphere.

It was insane.

The video made you feel everything that dark humor makes you feel in the strongest possible way.

So, I retweeted the video and by the time I looked at twitter again a day later, there were hundreds of people spending the intervening time arguing about how horrible a person I must be… they contrived that I must have enjoyed the cat's discomfort from the crab pinch and they invented this idea that I therefore probably wish harm and suffering to all animals and that I should probably be murdered along with my family because of it.

Wow.

Now, apparently, because I quote tweeted an AI goop fever dream of insanity, I must have been fooled by it (which is, btw, the worst crime imaginable), but somehow also I must be signaling that I am down for using AI for video games, and somehow also must just be a horrible person that cannot be trusted with twitter or, you know, any of the creativity I am actually responsible for that brings any of these people to even know who I am in the first place so they can give two shits about what goofy ass video I might be sharing while I sit on the toilet with my phone.

I mean, thanks for playing my games and thanks for the engagement and all that but, boy howdy, some of you really need to find some perspective and chill the f out.


@grok , can you just automatically block everyone in my replies who is a shit head?

Anyway, here's the real shit: never read the comments.



GUemhm4XEAARbmc.jpg


Between that post, lying about his relationship with Gabe Newell, this photo, and getting caught with a USB drive full of porn at fuckin Medieval Times idk how he hasn't just taken a background role at Gearbox.

Like Sid Meier for instance is the big boss at Firaxis, I have played a ton of his games, and I couldn't pick him out of a lineup.
 
This platform is wild.

A few years ago, I saw a video of a cat messing with a crab. The cat was pawing at it and the crab pinched the cat's claw and the cat just launched itself into the atmosphere.

It was insane.

The video made you feel everything that dark humor makes you feel in the strongest possible way.

So, I retweeted the video and by the time I looked at twitter again a day later, there were hundreds of people spending the intervening time arguing about how horrible a person I must be… they contrived that I must have enjoyed the cat's discomfort from the crab pinch and they invented this idea that I therefore probably wish harm and suffering to all animals and that I should probably be murdered along with my family because of it.

Wow.

Now, apparently, because I quote tweeted an AI goop fever dream of insanity, I must have been fooled by it (which is, btw, the worst crime imaginable), but somehow also I must be signaling that I am down for using AI for video games, and somehow also must just be a horrible person that cannot be trusted with twitter or, you know, any of the creativity I am actually responsible for that brings any of these people to even know who I am in the first place so they can give two shits about what goofy ass video I might be sharing while I sit on the toilet with my phone.

I mean, thanks for playing my games and thanks for the engagement and all that but, boy howdy, some of you really need to find some perspective and chill the f out.


@grok , can you just automatically block everyone in my replies who is a shit head?

Anyway, here's the real shit: never read the comments.

I REMEMBER THAT CRAB THING!!!!!

I had to gather the era kids around the fire and tell them about america's funniest home videos and the brutal, savage world we lived in. When we watched entire shows about cats getting pinched by crabs and dads getting hit in the nuts.
 
I just wish cliffy b was still around in the limelight making games because he would make Randy's deranged posts look normal in comparison.

Since all we have is Randy, let's just leave it with:

I'll be playing BL4 on gamepass or PS plus in a few years.

Signed, true fan 69420BlazeItSparkIt
 
Seemingly in hopes of finally settling the protracted brawl over his suggestion that a "real fan" would find a way to pay $80 for Borderlands 4 if it does end up hitting that price point, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford posted a veritable diatribe explaining what he was "trying" to say, the "shitty look" his post created, and his thoughts on rising game prices.

Ironically, this all started with another, comparably lengthy tweet about how Twitter interactions can spiral out of control on a platform that actively encourages outrage. "I mean, thanks for playing my games and thanks for the engagement and all that but, boy howdy, some of you really need to find some perspective and chill the f out," Pitchford said.

This naturally chummed the waters for still-disgruntled fans. One user replied: "I saw something crazy too. A CEO of Gearbox Software made players feel bad and alienated them for not wanting to pay $80 for his game. This platform IS wild."

"I am sorry there was a misunderstanding," he says. "The absolute sincere truth is that I don't want anyone to pay any more than they should or are comfortable with and I always work with the intent and hope that a customer always feels they got the better end of the deal no matter what they pay."

Pitchford claims "what I was trying to do" in his pricing discussion was explain that "it wasn't my call" how much Borderlands 4 costs, but "if a $10 price increase does happen" then "it will be okay [and] Borderlands 4 will be okay because it's a great game and there are a lot of fans who will see the value and want it."

The "real fans" comment was him "trying to shorthand" that, Pitchford insists, and "it got inflated as if I was making some big statement." Pitchford says it was just a passing remark, but he saw how some people interpreted it as him "taking the audience for granted," which he agrees is "a super shitty look, but it was not at all my intent and does not reflect at all how I feel."

Whatever Pitchford's alleged intent, let the record show that this was not at all an unfair interpretation. Players weren't the only ones to react to his comments this way; Baldur's Gate 3 dev Michael Douse called the "true fan" comment "gross" because it suggests that buying a game is more important than "making it day to day."

Keeping the posting pedal pressed to the floor and moving onto the topic of $80 games in general, Pitchford says "I don't want prices to go up because I want everyone to have access to what we create. I get that business is a thing and that the market and economy are driving prices up and sooner or later we're going to have to all adapt to that so that the creative engine can make at least as much as it spends to provide us with amazing content."

Fo3dSAd.jpeg
Why does the OP have a photo of Bella Ramsey?
 
His original comment was stupid.

The whole reaction of "his comment was so gross, how DARE someone imply that buying a video game is important when so many can't afford rent or bottom surgery" was also stupid.

His backpedaling and trying to explain himself is also stupid.
basically society has become bitchmade and social media was a mistake.
 
His original comment was stupid.

The whole reaction of "his comment was so gross, how DARE someone imply that buying a video game is important when so many can't afford rent or bottom surgery" was also stupid.

His backpedaling and trying to explain himself is also stupid.
He has erected The Stupidity Pyramid.
 
Gearbox hasn't evolved this IP since 2012. BL4 will do poorly sales wise, and gonna get rolled on the socials, Randy better get used to damage controlling and explaining shit.
 
GUemhm4XEAARbmc.jpg


Between that post, lying about his relationship with Gabe Newell, this photo, and getting caught with a USB drive full of porn at fuckin Medieval Times idk how he hasn't just taken a background role at Gearbox.

Like Sid Meier for instance is the big boss at Firaxis, I have played a ton of his games, and I couldn't pick him out of a lineup.
He's such a fucking creep imo
 
The comment just sounded strange, it projected like:

"if you can't afford to buy my game you ain't shit"

But also why are we reading so much into this? I have no idea if any of these posters played a borderlands before.
 
His original comment was stupid.

The whole reaction of "his comment was so gross, how DARE someone imply that buying a video game is important when so many can't afford rent or bottom surgery" was also stupid.

His backpedaling and trying to explain himself is also stupid.
yep. it's a stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid world...
 
I'm still in pain over the movie, did he approve that piece of shit? Did he have any say, or did he want me to pay $20 to go see it in IMAX or something? Because real fans should be willing to pay stupid prices to see shitty movies based on declining shitty games.
 
9.00 AM scene Randy Pitchford's office.

''And send''. ''Apology post sent and now I can put this all behind me''. ''Now for a quick gooning session and later some brunch at the new trendy cafe everyone keeps yapping about''.

''I'll bring my laptop just in case, now where is my USB stick?''
 
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fuck that dude and his idiotic Lord Farquhat haircut.

also he knew what he was saying, and said what he meant. this is just him trying to ACT contrite.
 
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It's Americans whining.
That's only because the salaries there have not moved that much since the 90s but everything else catched on.

Now imagine that whole world have the same prices as you did and have now but earns even less now and earned 3-6x less in the 90s. These are people who earn 50-60k a year and whine about 10$ price increase of a game. Dude that's not even an hour of your work.

We all have endured and endure still the same high prices. Bye we we t from earning 5x less than Americans to earning the same or only a bit less.

So in the end - welcome to the real world Americans lol. We welcome you here. You can now hate your government like we hate ours.

Edit; median salary in USA I exactly 2x higher than in Poland. And guess what. We pay 90$ for games lol
 
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His original comment was stupid.

The whole reaction of "his comment was so gross, how DARE someone imply that buying a video game is important when so many can't afford rent or bottom surgery" was also stupid.

His backpedaling and trying to explain himself is also stupid.

Googled "bottom surgery"...

What a sick perverse world we live in.

Back in the day, that would have meant something wholesome. Something along the lines of this:

61RVtl52PsL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 
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This whole situation could have easily been avoided had he just replied like a normal person in the first place, but that's asking too much of Randy.
 
I think it's the kind of thing someone says in conversation and it really never was the end of the world. Most of us don't want someone to take 2 sentences of ours in a live conversation and make it a headline. It is what it is. If you're going to be a public figure, get better PR training I guess.
 
Did he at least have the decency to provide an AI summary?

via AI Chat :messenger_tongue:

Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox, responded to backlash over his comments about a potential $80 price for Borderlands 4, clarifying that he wasn't involved in setting the price and that his "true fan" remark was meant to suggest that dedicated fans would see value in the game. He apologized for how his words were interpreted and acknowledged that the comment looked bad, especially since it angered some players and drew criticism from other developers. Pitchford also expressed his desire for affordable gaming but recognized that rising costs might be necessary for developers to continue producing quality content.
 
I take Randy's side in this. Pile on culture and disingenuous takes make us feel superior but we must not be a slave to this pleasure. 10 dollars more or less on a 70 dollar game isn't changing mind's en masse. Taking out frustrations towards the industry on an easy punching bag isn't a something the Prince of all Saiyans would waste time doing.
 
10 dollars more or less on a 70 dollar game isn't changing mind's en masse.

I agree. There seems to be an issue where people are unable to save money for something that gets announced months prior to release. And I'm talking about games they really want.

I'd get it if games went from $70 to $100 (I'm talking USD pricing only), but $10 more or less isn't something to cry about. And if they do cry it's because they want a game day 0.

There are always these 'sales' people wait for anyway. Those who seek sales will continue to do so.
 
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