Randy Pitchford Says “Real Fans” Will Pay $80 for ‘Borderlands 4,’ and People Are Not Happy
Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford is facing backlash after saying that “real fans” would pay $80 for Borderlands 4 if that’s how much it costs.
It all started when a fan replied to one of Pitchford’s posts, saying that Borderlands 4 “better not be” $80.
Pitchford responded by saying the price wasn’t up to him. But he also shared his opinion on high game prices and said that true fans would still find a way to afford the game.
“If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen,” Pitchford wrote.
“My local game store had Starflight for Sega Genesis for $80 in 1991 when I was just out of high school working minimum wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Beach and I found a way to make it happen.”
That comment didn’t go over well online. Many people pushed back and said it was unfair to compare prices and situations from the 1990s to today’s economy.
“The price is not the issue. The issue is what our ownership looks like now compared to back in 1991,” one person said.
A) Not my call. B) If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen. My local game store had Starflight for Sega Genesis for $80 in 1991 when I was just out of high school working minimum wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Beach and I found a way to make it happen.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) May 14, 2025
“Dude you must be out of touch with today’s economy. It is over 4x more difficult for a single person to make a living with the current cost of living,” another added.
This is just the latest debate in a growing conversation about the rising prices of video games. More and more companies are starting to charge $80 for new games. Nintendo raised eyebrows when it said Mario Kart World would be $80. Microsoft followed by announcing that some of its base games will soon also cost $80.
As prices keep going up, many players are asking if games are really worth it, and if companies are offering enough in return.
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