Pitchford clears up $80 Borderlands 4 remark

The uproar over Randy Pitchford's divisive $80 Borderlands 4 remarks has intensified, with rival publishers capitalizing on the controversy to market their own titles. Meanwhile, Pitchford has doubled down by referencing his previous statements about the game's pricing, stating: "If you want the truth, here it is."

Known for its provocative marketing, Devolver Digital seized the moment to promote Mycopunk—their upcoming Borderlands-inspired cooperative shooter—by cheekily remarking: "You're gonna be able to buy Mycopunk for you and three friends for the price of one Borderlands 4 copy."

For context, the backlash began when Pitchford responded to a fan's pricing concerns with: "If you're a real fan, you'll find a way to make it happen," citing his personal experience buying an $80 Genesis game in 1991 while working minimum wage.

Industry Reactions & Fan Backlash

Pitchford engaged with Devolver's post, quipping: "Mycopunk is cheaper than a point of meth—probably has fewer side effects too!" This sparked further criticism, with fans expressing disappointment that the controversy is overshadowing developer efforts.

"Mycopunk is cheaper than a point of meth - probably has fewer side effects, too!" - Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) May 21, 2025

Community pushback included comments like:

• "I am going to pirate Borderlands 4"
• "Please stop. Just apologize... This isn't fair on your developers"
• "BL4 had so much hype and it's being ruined in a day"

Pitchford's PAX East Clarification

While maintaining his stance, Pitchford redirected attention to his PAX East panel remarks where he admitted:

• Unaware of final pricing decision
• Borderlands 4's budget exceeds BL3's by 100%+
• Market forces and production costs influence pricing
• Publisher ultimately sets retail price

Influencers like Borderlands streamer Moxsy noted: "Your PAX response was perfect... The 'not a real fan' mentality only hurts those who want to support the game."

2K Games will confirm pricing with pre-orders, as Borderlands 4 targets its September 12, 2025 release.

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