Borderlands 4 Rumors Emerge Amidst Movie Adaptation Chatter

Gearbox CEO Hints at Borderlands 4 Development After Movie Flop

Following the box office failure of the Borderlands movie, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has again teased the development of Borderlands 4. Read on for details on the game's progress and the CEO's recent comments.

Gearbox Confirms Continued Work on Borderlands 4

In a recent social media post, Pitchford acknowledged fan enthusiasm for the Borderlands games, contrasting it with the movie's poor reception. He subtly confirmed the studio's ongoing work on the next installment, sparking excitement among fans. This follows a previous GamesRadar+ interview where Pitchford alluded to several major projects in development, hinting at an imminent Borderlands 4 announcement.

The development of Borderlands 4 was officially confirmed earlier this year by publisher 2K, following Take-Two Interactive's acquisition of Gearbox. The Borderlands franchise, launched in 2009, boasts over 83 million units sold, with Borderlands 3 achieving 2K's fastest-selling title status at 19 million copies. Borderlands 2 remains the best-selling game in the series, exceeding 28 million copies sold since 2012.

Borderlands Movie's Failure Spurs CEO's Comments

Pitchford's comments arrived soon after the Borderlands movie faced harsh criticism and dismal box office numbers. Despite a wide release across over 3,000 theaters, including IMAX screenings, the film grossed only $4 million in its opening weekend, far below expectations. Projected to fall short of $10 million against an $115 million production budget, the movie is considered a significant critical and financial failure.

The film, plagued by delays and released after more than three years of production, received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Even dedicated fans expressed disappointment, leading to a low CinemaScore rating. Critics cited a disconnect with the franchise's established charm and humor, suggesting an attempt to appeal to a younger demographic at the expense of the core fanbase. As noted by Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews, the movie felt like a misguided attempt to cater to perceived audience preferences, resulting in a lackluster product.

While the movie's underperformance highlights the challenges of video game adaptations, Gearbox remains focused on delivering a successful Borderlands 4 to its loyal gaming community.