Borderlands 4 Teased on the Coattails of Disastrous Movie Release

Gearbox CEO Hints at Borderlands 4 Development Following Borderlands Movie Flop

Following the critical and commercial failure of the Borderlands movie, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has again teased the development of Borderlands 4. The announcement comes amidst fan disappointment with the film and a renewed focus on the gaming franchise's future.

Confirmation of Borderlands 4's Development

On Sunday, Pitchford subtly acknowledged the ongoing work on a new Borderlands game, thanking fans for their continued support of the series, emphasizing that their enthusiasm far outweighed the reception of the recent film adaptation. His comments suggest significant progress is being made on the next installment. This follows a previous GamesRadar+ interview where Pitchford alluded to several major projects in development at Gearbox, hinting at an imminent announcement regarding the next Borderlands title.

The development of Borderlands 4 was officially confirmed earlier this year by publisher 2K, following Take-Two Interactive's acquisition of Gearbox Entertainment. The Borderlands franchise, launched in 2009, boasts over 83 million units sold, with Borderlands 3 achieving 19 million sales, making it 2K's fastest-selling title. Borderlands 2 remains the company's best-selling game, with over 28 million copies sold.

Borderlands Movie's Failure Spurs Focus on Gaming

Pitchford's social media comments followed the disastrous box office and critical performance of 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, far below projections and its $115 million production budget. The movie received overwhelmingly negative reviews, failing to capture the essence of the games' humor and charm. Critics, such as Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews, suggest the film misjudged its target audience, leading to a disappointing final product.

The underwhelming reception of the film underscores the challenges of translating beloved video games to the big screen. However, Gearbox remains committed to delivering a successful next installment in the Borderlands video game series, focusing its efforts on satisfying its core gaming fanbase.