Gearbox CEO Hints at Borderlands 4 Development After Movie Flop
Following the box office failure of the Borderlands movie, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has again teased the development of Borderlands 4. Read on for details on the game's progress and the CEO's recent comments.
Gearbox Confirms Continued Work on Borderlands 4
New Borderlands Game in the Works
This past Sunday, Pitchford offered another subtle confirmation of the studio's ongoing work on a new Borderlands title, expressing gratitude to fans whose enthusiasm for the games far outweighed their reception of the film adaptation. He highlighted the team's dedicated efforts on the next installment, leaving fans wanting more information.
This recent hint follows Pitchford's comments in a GamesRadar+ interview last month, where he revealed Gearbox had several large-scale projects underway. While avoiding a formal announcement, he suggested that news on the next Borderlands game wouldn't be long in coming.
Earlier this year, publisher 2K officially confirmed Borderlands 4's development, coinciding with Take-Two Interactive's acquisition of Gearbox Entertainment. The Borderlands franchise, launched in 2009, boasts over 83 million units sold, with Borderlands 3 becoming 2K's fastest-selling title at 19 million copies. Borderlands 2 remains their best-selling game, exceeding 28 million copies sold since 2012.
Movie's Poor Reception Spurs CEO's Comments
Pitchford's social media comments followed the Borderlands movie's significant critical and box office failure. Despite a wide release in over 3,000 theaters, the film grossed only $4 million in its opening weekend, falling far short of expectations. Its projected opening run is significantly below $10 million, a stark contrast to its $115 million production budget.
The long-awaited film, in production for over three years, received overwhelmingly negative reviews, becoming one of the summer's biggest critical disappointments. Even dedicated Borderlands fans expressed their dissatisfaction, leading to a low CinemaScore rating. Critics largely criticized the film for failing to capture the essence and humor of the games, instead seeming to misinterpret what would appeal to a younger audience. Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews highlighted this misguided attempt to appeal to a perceived younger demographic as a contributing factor to the film's shortcomings.
As Gearbox prepares for its next game, the underwhelming performance of the Borderlands movie serves as a cautionary tale about video game adaptations. However, the studio remains focused on delivering a successful game for its loyal fanbase.
