As gamers await Borderlands 4 pre-order info, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford can't rule out $80 price

Even third-party games may not be immune to economic trends. Gearbox Studios recently hosted a gameplay reveal but didn't share Borderlands 4 pre-order details. Some gamers speculate that the developer would rather have Microsoft or Sony deliver unhappy news. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford spoke more about the looter shooter at PAX East. While Pitchford said its publisher would determine the cost, he hinted that an $80 Borderlands 4 price was possible.

Pitchford described an ongoing debate in the industry about how to price new titles. Tariffs and inflation have prompted Nintendo to set some first-party Switch 2 games at $80. Microsoft soon followed by increasing the price of its consoles and games. At the same time, Jason Schreier argued in a Bloomberg article that the decision could backfire. Schreier noted the abundance of lower-priced quality titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Publishers risk alienating customers and losing sales with unreasonable demands.

When pressed on the Borderlands 4 cost, Pitchford gave a revealing response. He admitted that the "new price that Nintendo and Microsoft have led with" is under consideration. Although the game could be more affordable, development costs were twice as high as its predecessor. When Borderlands 4 pre-order info arrives, gamers will determine whether it warrants an investment. Still, the title promises more vast open areas than any previous title and highly customizable skill trees.

Unlike big-budget AAA projects, including GTA 6, the Gearbox Studios effort is running ahead of schedule. The Borderlands 4 release date of September 12 was originally September 23. Even so, the game has been in the works since 2019. Publisher 2K Games will decide if the development costs and appeal of the game justify an $80 price.