Randy Pitchford Apologizes for 'Real Fans' Tweet: 'Nobody Likes Being Taken for Granted'

Randy Pitchford has responded to the widespread backlash triggered by his now-infamous *Borderlands 4* tweet, where he told a fan concerned about the game’s rumored $80 price tag: “If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen.” The comment ignited a firestorm across social media, drawing criticism from fans and influencers alike. In an unusual twist, the controversy took a humorous turn when someone ran Pitchford’s original message through a Handsome Jack AI, generating a satirical reply in the voice of the iconic *Borderlands 2* antagonist.

The Original Exchange

The controversy began after a fan expressed concern over the potential $80 price point for *Borderlands 4*, writing:

“Randy, this game better not be 80 dollars. Don't take that risk, a lot of gamers aren't gonna pay 80 dollars and feed this notion of constant increase of the price tag. You are the CEO, you have some say with the price when it comes to your publisher.”

Pitchford replied:

“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.”

The response was met with immediate backlash, with many fans expressing disappointment and even plans to pirate the game unless Gearbox or publisher 2K Games intervened. One user wrote: “I am going to pirate Borderlands 4.” Another urged Pitchford: “Please stop. Just apologize and move on. This isn't fair on your developers.” A third added: “Randy we are begging you to stop. BL4 had so much hype and it’s being ruined in a day. Let people want to like and support the game and all the amazing people who made it.”

Pitchford Defends His Position

While Pitchford did not issue a direct apology, he pointed to a previous statement he made during a panel at PAX East regarding the pricing of *Borderlands 4*: “If you want the truth, here it is.” However, he later softened his tone after seeing a viral post created using the Handsome Jack AI.

The AI-generated message—crafted by user Duke_Newcombe and shared by streamer Moxsy—read as follows:

Ohhh boo-hoo, $80 for Borderlands 4? Let me break out the world’s tiniest violin—crafted from Eridium and oiled with the tears of whiny Vault Hunters.

Listen, cupcake, you’re not buying a game. You’re investing in a premium, galaxy-shattering experience personally engineered to blast your sad little dopamine receptors into orbit. You think quality loot and chaotic mayhem just code itself? You want guns that sprout legs, sing sea shanties, and explode into loot goblins without paying top dollar? Grow up.

Back in my day, I built an entire moonbase with my own two hands (and a metric ton of disposable Hyperion interns), and you’re crying about spending a few bucks more to virtually murder skags with style? Puh-lease.

But hey, if $80 is too steep, there’s always a solution: just don’t buy it. More legendary drops for the rest of us, and fewer mouth-breathing freeloaders clogging up my loot pools. Win-win.

Stay broke, hero.

• Handsome Jack President of the Galaxy, CEO of Hyperion, and your personal nightmare

Humor Helps Diffuse Tension

Seeing the parody, Pitchford chimed in with a lighthearted reaction: “Boy howdy, JackGPT, is that how I sound? My bad, but cheers to Duke_Newcombe and @MoxsyOG for the funniest thing I’m going to read today!”

He then followed up with a more sincere message:

“In seriousness though, nobody likes being taken for granted and it was not my intent. I’m humbled by the love and support everyone has shown the team as we push hard to get this amazing game in your hands. They’re crushing it, and I can’t wait for everyone to play what’s going to be the best Borderlands ever! Regardless of where the price lands, it’s going to be worth it and then some. Back to work for me!”

Moving Forward

Although Pitchford seems eager to put this week’s controversy behind him, the topic of *Borderlands 4*'s price is unlikely to fade. Once pre-orders go live, publisher 2K Games will need to officially announce the final price—whether it's $80, $70, or somewhere in between. That moment will likely reignite the conversation, especially among players already wary of rising game prices.

For now, the community remains divided, but the Handsome Jack AI parody offered a moment of levity amid the tension—a reminder that humor can sometimes soften even the sharpest of fan reactions.