Borderlands 4 Teased on the Coattails of Disastrous Movie Release

Gearbox CEO Hints at Borderlands 4 Development After Movie Flop

Following the disappointing box office performance of the Borderlands movie, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford offered another subtle confirmation of the studio's work on Borderlands 4. Read on for details about the game's development and Pitchford's recent comments.

Gearbox Confirms Continued Work on Next Borderlands Installment

Borderlands 4 Development Underway

On Sunday, Pitchford acknowledged fan enthusiasm for the Borderlands games, contrasting it with the less-than-stellar reception of the recent film adaptation. He indirectly confirmed the studio's continued development of the next Borderlands title, sparking excitement among fans. This follows a previous statement from Pitchford last month in a GamesRadar+ interview hinting at several major projects in the works, including a new Borderlands game.

Earlier this year, publisher 2K officially confirmed Borderlands 4's development, 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 2K's fastest-selling title status at 19 million copies. Borderlands 2 remains the company's top-selling game, exceeding 28 million copies sold since 2012.

Movie's Poor Reception Spurs CEO's Comments

Pitchford's social media comments came on the heels of the Borderlands movie's significant critical and commercial failure. Despite a wide release in over 3,000 theaters, including IMAX, the film grossed a mere $4 million in its opening weekend, falling far short of expectations and its $115 million budget. Projected to earn less than $10 million in its initial run, the movie is considered a major box office disappointment and received overwhelmingly negative reviews.

The film, plagued by delays and a production timeline stretching over three years, failed to capture the charm and humor that define the video game series. Critics and even fans have expressed disappointment, leading to a low CinemaScore. As one reviewer noted, the movie seemed to misinterpret its target audience, resulting in a lackluster final product.

With the Borderlands movie's underperformance serving as a stark reminder of the challenges in adapting video games to the big screen, Gearbox remains focused on delivering a successful next installment for its loyal gaming fanbase.