Randy Pitchford Apologizes for 'Real Fans' Tweet: 'Not My Intent to Take Anyone for Granted'

Randy Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox Software, recently faced significant backlash following his tweet about the pricing of the upcoming Borderlands 4. In response to a fan's concern about the game potentially costing $80, Pitchford controversially stated, "if you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen." This comment drew ire from the gaming community, with many expressing frustration and disappointment.

The exchange began with a fan tweeting, "Randy, this game better not be 80 dollars. Don't take that risk, a lot of gamers aren't gonna pay 80 dollars and feed this notion of constant increase of the price tag. You are the CEO, you have some say with the price when it comes to your publisher."

Pitchford replied, "A) Not my call. B) If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen. My local game store had Starflight for Sega Genesis for $80 in 1991 when I was just out of high school working minimum wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Beach and I found a way to make it happen."

The response on social media was overwhelmingly negative. Some users threatened to pirate the game, while others pleaded with Pitchford to apologize and focus on the efforts of the developers. One commenter lamented, "Randy we are begging you to stop. BL4 had so much hype and it’s being ruined in a day. Let people want to like and support the game and all the amazing people who made it."

Despite not offering a direct apology, Pitchford referenced a previous statement from PAX East about the game's price, saying, "If you want the truth, here it is." However, he took a step closer to an apology after a Handsome Jack AI, prompted by a user named Duke_Newcombe and shared by streamer Moxsy, humorously rephrased his original tweet.

The AI's response, embodying the sarcastic tone of Borderlands 2's antagonist, read:

Ohhh boo-hoo, $80 for Borderlands 4? Let me break out the world’s tiniest violin—crafted from Eridium and oiled with the tears of whiny Vault Hunters.

Listen, cupcake, you’re not buying a game. You’re investing in a premium, galaxy-shattering experience personally engineered to blast your sad little dopamine receptors into orbit. You think quality loot and chaotic mayhem just code itself? You want guns that sprout legs, sing sea shanties, and explode into loot goblins without paying top dollar? Grow up.

Back in my day, I built an entire moonbase with my own two hands (and a metric ton of disposable Hyperion interns), and you’re crying about spending a few bucks more to virtually murder skags with style? Puh-lease.

But hey, if $80 is too steep, there’s always a solution: just don’t buy it. More legendary drops for the rest of us, and fewer mouth-breathing freeloaders clogging up my loot pools. Win-win.

Stay broke, hero.

• Handsome Jack President of the Galaxy, CEO of Hyperion, and your personal nightmare

Pitchford responded lightheartedly to the AI's take, tweeting, "Boy howdy, JackGPT, is that how I sound? My bad, but cheers to Duke_Newcombe and @MoxsyOG for the funniest thing I’m going to read today!"

He then offered a more sincere follow-up, stating, "In seriousness though, nobody likes being taken for granted and it was not my intent. I’m humbled by the love and support everyone has shown the team as we push hard to get this amazing game in your hands. They’re crushing it, and I can’t wait for everyone to play what’s going to be the best Borderlands ever! Regardless of where the price lands, it’s going to be worth it and then some. Back to work for me!"

Randy Pitchford: "Back to work for me!" Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage.

Despite Pitchford's efforts to move past the controversy, the debate over Borderlands 4's pricing is likely to resurface once pre-orders begin and 2K Games officially announces the price.