Pitchford Clarifies 'Real Fans' Remark Amid Backlash

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has responded to criticism stemming from his remarks about Borderlands 4's potential $80 price tag after a fan ran his comments through a Handsome Jack AI generator.

The Controversial Exchange

The debate began when a fan expressed concerns about borderlands4's possible pricing:

"Randy, this game better not be 80 dollars. Don't take that risk...a lot of gamers aren't gonna pay 80 dollars..."

Pitchford replied:

"A) Not my call. B) If you're a real fan, you'll find a way to make it happen...back in 1991 when I was working minimum wage, I found a way to afford an $80 Genesis game."

Community Backlash

The gaming community responded negatively to Pitchford's remarks:

• "I am going to pirate Borderlands 4" - Twitter user @Gamer123
• "Please stop. Just apologize...this isn't fair on your developers" - @BorderlandsFan
• "BL4 had so much hype and it's being ruined in a day" - @VaultHunter2024

The AI-Generated Response That Changed the Conversation

Borderlands streamer Moxsy shared an AI-generated response framed as Handsome Jack (Borderlands 2's iconic villain) that went viral:

"Boo-hoo, $80 for Borderlands 4?...You're not buying a game - you're investing in a premium experience...Stay broke, hero."
- Handsome Jack (AI)

Pitchford's Response to the AI Parody

After seeing the viral AI response:

"Boy howdy, JackGPT, is that how I sound? My bad...cheers to @MoxsyOG for the funniest thing I'll read today!" Pitchford tweeted.

The Gearbox CEO continued: "In seriousness...nobody likes being taken for granted...Regardless of where the price lands, it's going to be worth it...Back to work for me!"

While Pitchford's comments approach an apology, the pricing debate will likely resurface when 2K Games officially announces Borderlands 4's price point. The controversy has undoubtedly made the pricing discussion more prominent than it might have been otherwise.