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Take-Two Blames Borderlands 4’s Weaker Sales on PC Launch Woes After Gearbox Called It “Pretty Damn Optimal”
November 8, 2025Borderlands 4 landed in September with strong reviews, but its PC debut has been anything but smooth. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is now pointing the finger at the game’s troubled Steam release after admitting sales numbers came in “softer” than what the publisher wanted. The launch was met with significant performance complaints from PC players. Gamers quickly hammered Borderlands 4 with “negative” reviews on Steam, citing technical issues. This backlash put the spotlight on Gearbox and its outspoken boss, Randy Pitchford.
“Pretty Damn Optimal”? Fans Disagree
Pitchford was quick to hit back on social media. He described the PC version as “pretty darn optimal” and claimed only a “very, very small percentage of users” had significant problems, downplaying the uproar. Yet he admitted Gearbox would be doing “significant” work on future patches to improve performance.
Despite Pitchford’s public spin, the negativity stuck. Shortly after launch, Digital Foundry’s technical analysis found “big performance issues” weren’t just a PC problem. Every platform had its headaches. That raised deeper questions about just how ready the game was across the board.
Take-Two Speaks: “Softer” Sales, Steam Blamed
Talking to TheGameBusiness’ Christopher Dring, Zelnick didn’t sugarcoat it. “The critical acclaim [the game received] was superb, and we’re really happy with the release,” he said. “Equally, there were some challenges with the Steam release. Gearbox has been addressing those challenges and will continue to do so. So, in terms of units sold out of the gate, the numbers were a little softer than we would have liked. In the fullness of time, we think it’s going to do great.”
For Borderlands 4 fans waiting to play the game on Nintendo’s next console, there’s more disappointment. Gearbox has now indefinitely delayed the Switch 2 version. The team says it needs “additional development and polish time” before they’re ready for launch, clearly a response to criticism over technical quality.
This admission comes in the wake of another major Take-Two headline: the delay of GTA 6. The Borderlands 4 launch issues add another headache for the publisher as they shuffle release timelines amidst mounting fan scrutiny.
Borderlands 4 still has a future. Take-Two’s leadership and Gearbox are betting on the series’ legacy and ongoing improvements to win back disappointed fans and boost long-term numbers. Whether that optimism translates into real sales as patches roll out, and when the Switch port finally arrives, remains to be seen.
Borderlands 4’s PC Headaches: A Timeline
- September launch: The game receives high marks from critics but is slammed with negative user ratings on Steam for PC performance.
- Pitchford responds: Insists problems are isolated, calls the release “pretty darn optimal,” but promises fixes anyway.
- Digital Foundry weighs in: Finds substantial performance issues on all systems.
- Switch 2 version delayed: Gearbox says it needs more time for polish in response to technical concerns.
- Take-Two CEO admits weak sales: Zelnick blames the “challenges” of the Steam release for underwhelming initial numbers, but forecasts a positive future as problems get patched up.
If you picked up Borderlands 4 on day one, you already know the story: a blockbuster weighed down by launch issues, heated debate, and a publisher hoping a rocky start won’t define its legacy.
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