Borderlands 4 Teased on the Coattails of Disastrous Movie Release

Gearbox CEO Hints at Borderlands 4 Development After Movie Flop

Following the box office and critical 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

This weekend, Pitchford indirectly confirmed ongoing work on the next Borderlands installment, thanking fans for their continued enthusiasm for the game franchise, which he contrasted with the less-than-stellar reception of the recent film adaptation. He stated the team is diligently working on the next game, leaving fans wanting more information.

This subtle confirmation follows a previous GamesRadar+ interview last month where Pitchford alluded to several major projects in development at Gearbox. While avoiding a formal announcement, he suggested news on the next Borderlands game wouldn't be far off.

Earlier this year, 2K officially confirmed Borderlands 4 development, coinciding with Take-Two Interactive's acquisition of Gearbox Entertainment. The Borderlands series, launched in 2009, boasts over 83 million units sold, with Borderlands 3 becoming 2K's fastest-selling title (19 million copies). Borderlands 2 remains their best-selling game, having sold over 28 million copies since 2012.

Borderlands Movie's Failure Spurs CEO's Comments

Pitchford's social media comments followed the significant backlash against the Borderlands movie. Despite a wide release in over 3,000 theaters, including IMAX screenings, the film grossed a mere $4 million in its opening weekend. Projected to fall drastically short of its $115 million budget, the movie is now considered a major box office and critical failure.

The film, delayed for several years, received overwhelmingly negative reviews, even disappointing dedicated Borderlands fans and resulting in a poor CinemaScore. Critics criticized the film for straying from the source material's charm and humor, attempting instead to appeal to a younger demographic in a way that ultimately failed to resonate with audiences. As noted by Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews, the film felt out of touch with its fanbase.

The underperformance of the Borderlands movie highlights the challenges of adapting successful video games to the big screen. However, Gearbox remains focused on delivering a successful next installment to its loyal gaming community.