Upon its release, Borderlands 4 garnered generally positive reviews from critics, but faced a torrent of negative feedback on Steam regarding severe optimization issues with its PC version. Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Studios, has publicly defended the game, challenging player claims of performance problems. He has remained an active voice on social media, despite significant pushback from the fan community.
Most of Pitchford’s social media activity has involved offering troubleshooting advice and optimization guides for Borderlands 4 across PC and consoles. However, his interactions with frustrated fans have occasionally escalated. In one notable instance, Pitchford advised a dissatisfied player to ‘get a refund from Steam if you aren’t happy with it,’ drawing a controversial analogy: ‘I would not put a Ferrari engine in a monster truck and expect it to drive like a Ferrari.’ He then proceeded to share further optimization tips.
In a direct response to player complaints, Randy Pitchford controversially suggested that if players were unhappy, they should ‘get a refund from Steam.’ He elaborated with an analogy, stating, ‘I would not put a Ferrari engine in a monster truck and expect it to drive like a Ferrari,’ before offering to discuss specifications for further optimization. This exchange quickly spread across social media, sparking widespread discussion.
Later, Pitchford confirmed that a software patch is currently being developed to address ongoing performance issues specifically affecting PlayStation 5 Pro users.
He clarified the PS5 Pro issue, explaining it’s a ‘known issue of perf dropping on PS5 Pro after several hours of continuous play.’ His immediate suggestion was a temporary workaround: ‘Quit game and restart. Sorry for the friction!’
Pitchford also revealed a portion of the offensive messages he had received, some of which contained racist language. Despite this, when a user mentioned fan-made modifications that aimed to resolve some of the game’s problems, Pitchford extended an offer to help publicize these community solutions.
He asked, ‘Can you post a link? If they’ve got more help to offer users, I’d love to help signal boost that.’ Pitchford emphasized that Gearbox is ‘not an amateur studio,’ having collaborated extensively with Epic and hardware manufacturers, but reiterated his openness to any assistance that improves the player experience.
When confronted by a user who labeled him ‘insufferable,’ Pitchford calmly responded by reaffirming his commitment to supporting players.
His reply, ‘I’m trying to be helpful. What do you think would be helpful? What would you have me do?’ highlighted his ongoing effort to engage constructively.
Beyond performance, other significant issues have emerged. Gearbox has issued a warning regarding a critical bug that could potentially wipe out all player skill points. The studio has also acknowledged the PC performance woes and provided various recommendations to help players mitigate them. For those already immersed in the game and seeking assistance, GameSpot offers a comprehensive Borderlands 4 guides hub, packed with invaluable features, tips, and tricks.
Borderlands 4 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is slated for release on October 3rd.