The Borderlands movie was released last week to abysmal critical reception, and it’s undoubtedly looking like the film is going to be a commercial disappointment. It’s pretty safe to say it wasn’t what fans of the video game franchise had been hoping to see.
Although Gearbox Software’s CEO is trying to put a positive spin on the adaptation’s struggles, gamers aren’t having any of it and want the creator to take accountability and step away from the franchise entirely.
Borderlands Fans Want Gearbox CEO Out of the Project
Reflecting on the movie’s poor reception, the studio’s CEO Randy Pitchford took to X/Twitter to reveal that he’s “super flattered” to learn that the series’ fandom loves the games even more than what the biggest filmmakers on the planet could’ve produced.
The CEO concluded his optimistic train of thought by promising that the studio is working hard for the next entry in the franchise. A fourth entry in the Borderlands series was confirmed earlier this year when Take-Two Interactive acquired the studio.
While many fans responded to Pitchford’s positivity with equal measure, others used his post as an opportunity to grieve the decision to turn the movie into what they believe is a generic PG-13 acting comedy rather than something that caters to the franchise.
Pitchford clearly had a massive role in the movie’s production, but it turned out to be a nightmare. Gamers believe that the studio will thrive once again after Pitchford leaves the company altogether.
It just wasn’t the failure of the movie either; previous games in the franchise have left players hopeless for the future.
It’s surprising to see Pitchford making such statements when he outright blocked dedicated players of the franchise when they showed concerns for the movie.
After years of disappointment, players have lost their faith in Gearbox and believe they’ll never see a legendary title like the first entry.
The movie’s poor performance and Pitchford’s comments are unlikely to do the franchise any favors. However, that’s not to say that fans aren’t excited about another game in the franchise.
Borderlands 4 is Still Years Away From Launch
Take-Two’s March 2024 announcement mentioned that a fourth entry in the popular series is in active development without telling us when the production phase started.
In the modern gaming landscape, it’s a known fact that game development, especially for AAA titles, can take at least four to five years. Considering the fact that we still don’t have enough information, Borderlands 4 could be years away from debut.
If 2K’s and Gearbox’s past marketing campaigns are any signs, it is safe to assume that the title is at least 12 months away from being finally revealed.
It’s crucial for the developers to carefully listen to feedback on previous failures of the franchise; otherwise, just like the movie release, the next game could prove to be another failure.
What do you think about the Borderlands movie? Let us know in the comments below!
