Borderlands 4 has generated intense conversation in the gaming community since its launch. While the title has achieved impressive numbers on platforms like Steam, it also faces criticism for its performance on PC. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has responded directly to the negative feedback, using his Twitter account as his primary channel to defend the game's performance.
In its first 24 hours, Borderlands 4 achieved a franchise-high with 207,479 concurrent players on Steam. That number grew even further over the weekend, reaching a peak of 304,398 active users on Sunday, according to SteamDB data. Additionally, the PC version earned a Metacritic score of 84, indicating positive critical reception.
Despite these achievements, numerous players have reported technical issues affecting the PC experience. Complaints include performance drops, incompatibility with certain graphics cards, and difficulty running the game at high settings. Faced with this situation, Pitchford shared optimization guides and tips to improve performance, such as enabling DLSS with framerate generation. However, many users failed to follow these recommendations, leading the executive to publish a series of messages that have garnered attention for their direct tone.
Pitchford stated that every player should understand the relationship between their hardware and the software they use. He noted that Borderlands 4 offers multiple tools to adjust the experience to individual preferences, including options to balance frame rate, resolution, and graphical features. He also indicated that it's a mistake to expect optimal performance on computers that don't exceed the recommended specifications.
In another thread, Pitchford criticized some users' insistence on playing at 4K resolution with ultra settings using hardware that's two or three years old. He suggested that those who want a smooth, fun experience consider playing at 1440p. He acknowledged that some players might feel frustrated if their expectations aren't met, and apologized for this.
Despite efforts to improve communication and offer solutions, negative feedback persists. Steam reviews started with 41% positive feedback, and some users have expressed their disappointment with phrases like, "Randy, I sold my car for this." Issues have even been reported on high-end graphics cards like the 5090, intensifying the debate about the game's optimization.
Borderlands 4 continues to generate interest and controversy. While thousands of players enjoy the game, others demand technical improvements that allow for a more stable experience. Randy Pitchford, without filters or intermediaries, maintains his firm stance and continues to use social media as a platform for dialogue with the community.