Randy Pitchford Explains Controversial Tweet

Randy Pitchford has responded to the criticism surrounding his controversial "$80 for real fans" tweet about Borderlands 4 after someone transformed it using a Handsome Jack AI voice.

The backlash began when Pitchford replied to a concerned fan worried about Borderlands 4 potentially costing $80, stating: "True fans will figure out how to make it work."

The original exchange went like this:

"Randy, please don't charge $80 for this game. Many players won't pay that price, and it fuels this trend of constantly increasing costs. As CEO, you've got influence with your publisher about pricing."

Pitchford's reply:

"A) Not my decision. B) True fans find solutions. Back in 1991, I worked minimum wage but still bought Starflight for Sega Genesis at $80 from my local game store in Pismo Beach."

Reactions to Pitchford's tweet were overwhelmingly negative. One Twitter user threatened: "I'll pirate Borderlands 4," while others urged: "Just apologize and protect your development team." Another fan pleaded: "Don't destroy BL4's hype – let people support the talented creators."

Though avoiding direct apology, Pitchford referenced his PAX East comments about BL4's pricing: "For those wanting honesty, here's the reality."

The situation evolved when Borderlands streamer Moxsy shared AI-generated Handsome Jack dialogue mocking Pitchford's tweet, prompting a more contrite response.

(Note: Handsome Jack serves as Borderlands 2's primary villain and Pandora's self-declared ruler.)

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

"Wow, JackGPT – do I really sound like that?" Pitchford tweeted. "Credit to Duke_Newcombe and @MoxsyOG for today's best laugh!"

"Seriously though, I never meant to take fans for granted. I'm grateful for everyone supporting our team as we deliver what will be Borderlands' finest installment. Whatever the final price, it'll deliver incredible value. Now back to work!"

While Pitchford hopes to move past this controversy, the pricing debate will likely reignite when pre-orders launch. Publisher 2K Games' eventual price announcement – whether $80, $70, or otherwise – will undoubtedly attract more attention than originally anticipated.