Borderlands 4 Teased on the Coattails of Disastrous Movie Release

In a move that has caught the attention of the gaming community, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has teased the development of Borderlands 4, following the disappointing release of the Borderlands movie. This announcement comes at a pivotal time, as fans eagerly await new content from the beloved franchise.

Gearbox CEO Teases Progress on Borderlands 4

Ongoing Development for New Borderlands Game

On a recent Sunday morning, Randy Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox, hinted at the ongoing development of the next installment in the Borderlands series. He expressed deep gratitude towards the fans, noting their enthusiasm for the games far outweighs their reception of the recent movie adaptation. Pitchford assured that the team is working tirelessly on the next game, leaving fans buzzing with anticipation for more details.

This tease follows Pitchford's earlier comments in a GamesRadar+ interview last month, where he mentioned Gearbox's involvement in several major projects. Although he didn't make an official announcement, he suggested that fans wouldn't have to wait long for news on Borderlands 4.

Earlier this year, the development of Borderlands 4 was officially confirmed by publisher 2K, coinciding with Take-Two Interactive's acquisition of Gearbox Entertainment. Since its launch in 2009, the Borderlands series has sold over 83 million units. Notably, Borderlands 3 became 2K's fastest-selling title, moving 19 million copies, while Borderlands 2 remains the best-selling game in the company's portfolio, with over 28 million copies sold since 2012.

Negative Reception of the Borderlands Movie Fuels CEO's Comments

Pitchford's social media remarks came shortly after the Borderlands movie faced severe backlash. Despite being released in over 3,000 theaters, it only managed to rake in $4 million during its opening weekend. Even premium formats like Imax couldn't salvage its performance, and the film is projected to fall short of $10 million in its opening run, a stark contrast to its $115 million production budget.

The long-delayed film, which took over three years to produce, has been met with scathing reviews, marking it as one of the summer's biggest critical failures. Even dedicated fans of the Borderlands franchise have expressed disappointment, leading to a poor CinemaScore rating. Critics argue that the movie misses the mark, lacking the charm and humor that made the games so beloved. Edgar Ortega from Loud and Clear Reviews noted that the film seemed like a misguided effort to appeal to what studio executives believed would attract younger audiences, ultimately resulting in a lackluster experience.

As Gearbox prepares for the release of Borderlands 4, the underwhelming reception of the Borderlands movie underscores the challenges of adapting video games to film. However, the studio remains focused on delivering another hit for its gaming fans, promising a new adventure in the Borderlands universe.