If Borderlands 4 costs £80 Gearbox's boss thinks you should pay it
How much would you pay for Borderlands 4? (Take-Two Interactive)
Randy Pitchford thinks that 'real fans' will 'find a way to make it happen' if Borderlands 4 ends up costing £80, but he insists the price isn't up to him.
It's true that the price of video games has varied little since gaming went mainstream in the 80s and 90s. Back in 1991, the average price of a movie ticket in the UK was £3.03 and it's now close to £8.
And yet, at the same time, SNES games were regularly £50 to £60, with the occasional high-end title, such as Starwing (aka Star Fox), costing even more. And that's ignoring the cost of import games – at a time when many games were never released in the UK – which could easily cost £100 or more.
Not only has the face value of the games barely increased but adjusted for inflation, £50 in 1991 would be over £113 today. And yet the idea of paying £80 for Borderlands 4 has caused outrage even amongst fans of the series.
It's becoming increasingly likely that £80/$80 will become the norm for triple-A video games in the near future, with Mario Kart World costing £75 for the physical version (although no other Switch 2 game is that much and it's cheaper on digital) and Microsoft warning all its games are set to increase to $80 from this Christmas.
Other publishers are expected to follow suit, with particular concern over rumours that GTA 6 will end up costing £100 or more – which other publishers will also try to copy once it's released next May.
At the same time, it's expected that the idea of a set price for most video games will also become a thing of the past, with Nintendo already embracing the idea of dynamic pricing, as well as Rockstar Games owner Take-Two – who is only charging £45 for the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country.
That makes it very difficult to guess how much this year's Borderlands 4 is going to cost, since it's also published by Take-Two, although many fans fear it will be $80/£80.
A reader asked Randy Pitchford, co-founder of developer Gearbox, about the issue on X and got an unexpected reply: '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 [aka Mega Drive] for $80 in 1991 when I was just out of high school working minimum wage at an ice cream parlour in Pismo Beach and I found a way to make it happen.'
You can imagine how that went down with fans, with many not believing that it's not Pitchford's decision – which it isn't, although he probably can have some influence over publisher Take-Two.
We can't repeat some of the more impassioned responses to his tweet but Synth Potato insisted that, 'Dawg we are NOT paying $80 for a Borderlands game fully knowing you'll do multiple season passes that cost another $100 and you'll probably sell weapon skins too.'
One of the more sage replies came from Jared Shapiro, who asked: 'How many units of Starflight were sold in total? How many units of Borderland 4 do you expect to move?' As he implies, Starflight was extremely niche and did not sell well, especially not on the Mega Drive.
'The $80 price point wasn't a thing when it [Borderlands 4] went into development, why not keep it at the targeted $70 to show your fans some good will? Maybe keep the budget in check for the next one and you can get it out at $60 and get praise like [Clair Obscur:] Expedition 33 and the Oblivion remake got for pushing out at $50,' he added.
This is not the first time Pitchford has claimed not to know how much the game will be sold for, which may be true, but a decision needs to be made soon as it's supposed to be out on September 12.
'It's an interesting time,' he said at the PAX East event at the weekend, via IGN. 'On one level, we've got a competitive marketplace where the people that make those choices want to sell as many units as possible and they want to be careful about people that are price sensitive. There are some folks who don't want to see prices go up, even the ones deciding what the prices are.'
'There's other folks accepting the reality that game budgets are increasing and there's tariffs for the retail packaging. It's getting gnarly out there, you guys. Borderlands 4 has more than twice the development budget for Borderlands 3. More than twice. So the truth is, I don't know what the price is going to be,' he added.
Borderlands 4's price may be a step too far for some fans (Take-Two Interactive)
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
Arrow MORE: Baldur's Gate 3 may have the worst video game merchandise ever made
Arrow MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 OLED Model is happening if Samsung gets its way
Arrow MORE: The Last Of Us Part 3 suffers new blow as Naughty Dog admit to second secret game
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
Games Inbox: Will Nintendo games ever come to PC?
The Monday letters page worries that it's being priced out of buying a Nintendo Switch 2, as one reader is disappointed by Elden Ring Nightreign. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Outside influence While I'm sure the Xbox website listing Xenoblade Chronicles X was some kind of mistake, I'm not sure the idea that Microsoft has talked Nintendo into supporting the PC can be completely ruled out. Microsoft has been trying to get influence over Nintendo for decades, including two separate attempts to buy them, so I can absolutely imagine them nagging and coaxing them into supporting PC. I'm not saying they've convinced Nintendo but think of what they could offer them. Maybe free use of their servers for streaming or sharing the cost of making new games, now they're more expensive on Switch 2. Doesn't sound likely but I think you could say that for a lot of things that have happened recently, which is basically what the Reader's Feature about PlayStation 5 was getting at this weekend. So I wouldn't rule out Nintendo games coming top PC at some point. I agree that Sony seem to be out of the conversation at the moment and are not influencing gaming the way they used to, whether the PlayStation 5 is selling or not. Even if Microsoft can never compete with them on even ground, I still feel they'd like to see Sony taken out of the picture and this way they can use someone else to do it. Manson The plan worked I had no intention of getting Elden Ring Nightreign because of it being multiplayer-focused but it's still disappointing to find out that it was a cheap cash-in and that it's popular anyway. FromSoftware are one of the developers I respect the most right now, but this is really disappointing to me. My theory is that they 'owed' Bandai Namco another Elden Ring game and so they knocked this out quick, with less care than usual as to whether it was any good or not. And people still bought it. I shouldn't be bothered, if it doesn't affect me, but it doesn't sit right with me. Especially as we still haven't got a single-player game to look forward from them. Stolz Lasting reputation I finally finished Astro Bot (it has the best Christmas level as free DLC) and the Horizon Zero Dawn planet made me pick up that game on the cheap. It's really good and I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying it, as I heard bad things about it I don't play games for storylines and I only really need a reason to go from A to B, but I'm still enjoying it so far with the lost industrialised world, etc. I'm only about four hours in but I can see this being one of my 50+ hour games. I also read that Aloy is annoying, but I don't know where that comes from unless something happens later on. Simon GC: Horizon Zero Dawn has always been thought of favourably, although Aloy and the other characters have a reputation for being a bit boring – rather than annoying. Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Old-fashioned pleasures Just seen that two shops are opening at midnight for the Switch 2 launch. For those who are going and have never had the chance to do a midnight launch you're going to love it and I do mean it. The waiting outside, saying, 'Come on, hurry up!' every three seconds, then getting to the door of the shop and trying to see how many more is in front of you. And then being next to be served and then walking to the counter, waiting for them to scan the Switch2 box. Hearing them famous words, you have never heard: 'cash or card? Them putting it in a bag and saying thanks, while handing you the bag. Getting out the shop as quickly as possible, before trying to get home as fast as possible to start the process of setting it up and download the updates. I promise you're going to love it, it's how gaming was and how it still should be. You're all going to love it. David Physical source Just in case anyone still wants a physical game, Vinted is a pretty good source. I've filled my shelves with Xbox One and Xbox Series X games for some very reasonable prices. Just recently I got Doom and Prey for £3 plus P&P. Dead Island 2 for £8. Haven't had any bad experiences yet. I'm using it to get all of the Call of Duty games for as little as possible, got the World War game for two quid, I think. I like playing through the story campaigns. Does Vanguard have a story to play through? Bobwallett GC: Yes. Black Ops 4 is the only mainline entry without a campaign mode. Full comment I know GC has been good enough to pass on issues with comments being rejected in the Underbox but it's still very difficult to know where the issues are and benign comments to not be rejected, like this one under wetbandit's Sunday feature: I think you're mixing up backwards compatibility and Switch 2 upgrade patches. Nintendo is responsible for ensuring Switch games are backwards compatible with Switch 2 and it's an ongoing exercise. That Modern Vintage Gamer video is a month old and he's using the official Nintendo list from the 15th April. It was last updated on the 27th of May and the list of games with no issues or issues that will be fixed at launch or shortly after has grown by 40%. Everything else is marked as under investigation. Like any other console it's up to the devs to offer a native Switch 2 version if they want and if it will be free or paid for. Nintendo and Sony both offer free upgrades on some games where the work is minimal. Charge an upgrade fee of around £10 for others and more if there's some extra content/new DLC with the new native version like Kirby or GoT on PlayStation 5. In short, back compatible on Switch 2 works like other consoles. The only games that are flat out not playable are two of the Labo games, where the Switch 2 doesn't fit the accessories. Then there's a few games like Ring Fit that need Switch Joy-Cons, but they are back compatible with Switch 2, as is the Pro Controller. Also, the console is £395 and its price was meet with mild pleasant surprise. Not so much Mario Kart World. Simundo The bitter end It's crazy to me how long games to make nowadays. Cyberpunk 2 might not even be out this decade and that's the norm now. I can't think of anything else creative that takes this long to make. A movie is two or three years at the maximum and usually less. I guess there would be some serious books that take a long time to write but a lot of that would not be entirely full-time, I would've thought. And even then it still might not be as long. How many people making these games actually stay for the whole thing? Or do they feel they should always see it through to the bitter end? Rosco Priced out I won't be getting a Nintendo Switch 2 next week, not because I'm not a fan but because I just don't feel I can afford one. I'm a traditionalist and prefer physical copies of games, at least when it comes to big releases anyway, as I feel they deserve a place with my other games on the shelf. I would definitely want Mario Kart World and that, along with a Switch 2, wouldn't leave me with much change from £500, certainly not enough to purchase another game anyway. I bought the Xbox Series S because I thought it was reasonably priced at £250, and I certainly wouldn't have given the Xbox Series X a second glance at £450 if that would have been the only option. For the time being I will stick with my original Switch, while I'm picking up cheap games for less than a couple of quid. Although I do expect Nintendo to start squeezing customers like me out of that oasis sooner rather than later. They are just a business after all. I wish them luck because I've never hated Nintendo even when they were at some of their lowest ebbs. I went out and bought their products because I enjoyed them. Unfortunately for now at least, my mind says yes, but my bank balance says no. I hope it does do well but then again if it doesn't, maybe I could afford one. freeway 77 Inbox also-ransIs GC planning on reviewing Nice Day For Fishing from Viva La Dirt League/Team 17? Thanks, I read you every day. Tomithy GC: We've never heard of it till now, so we're not sure. It's going to be a busy week. Oh look, another day another U-turn from Microsoft. So they suddenly found out that Steam Deck and co. don't really sell that much and so their new idea is to *checks notes* focus on Windows. Really, what was the point of Xbox? Dandy More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@ The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: Are you getting a Nintendo Switch 2 next week? MORE: Games Inbox: When will the new Tomb Raider be revealed? MORE: Games Inbox: What review score will Mario Kart Worlds get?
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
John Wick spin-off Ballerina and Switch 2 launches - what's coming up this week
This week, it's time for the latest instalment in the John Wick franchise, as Ballerina hits the big that's not all the next seven days have in Nintendo Switch 2 also launches, and TikTok star Addison Rae is releasing her debut studio on for what's coming up this week... The fifth John Wick film is here It's been a few years since we last saw John Wick, but fans will be gearing up for Ballerina, the latest film in the franchise, which comes out on between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), a ballerina-turned-assassin who uncovers secrets from her family's directed by Len Wiseman, who described it in press notes as "kind of the opposite of John Wick's story. Wick is trying to get out of his life as an assassin; Eve is wanting in - she wants to be a killer'.Keanu Reeves, who plays the title character in the John Wick franchise, is also starring in Ballerina - but the extent of his involvement is still to The Hollywood Reporter, he recently said he spent only 'eight days' on set of the new film.'But it was fun to play the role again and I'm excited for people to see the film. It's in the spirit of John Wick and has new characters and opens up some stuff, so hopefully people like it,' he added. Nintendo Switch 2 launches By Tom Gerken, technology reporter Thursday may seem like any other day of the week to some - but it's a date gamers have had marked on their diaries for of thousands, perhaps even a million, people will unbox their very own Nintendo Switch 2, the sequel to the third-best selling console in history.I was one of the lucky few to get my hands on it last month, and it makes quite a first impression. It's like a Switch - but with a bigger and brighter screen, and of course much more power under the also has a cool hook - you can use the controller like a computer mouse by twisting it on its side, making PC games such as Civilization VII a more enjoyable experience than struggling with not all good news for gamers though as that power comes with a cost - not only is the hardware more expensive than Nintendo fans may be used to, some games are too. A physical copy of Mario Kart World costs a whopping £ with pre-orders selling out worldwide, at least for now it's looking like Nintendo might well be onto another winner. Addison Rae's new album By Annabel Rackham, culture reporter Addison Rae is a TikTok creator with nearly 90 million followers, a Netflix movie star and also a singer on the brink of releasing her debut studio Addison, it's out on Friday and the 24-year-old says it has been inspired by the music of Charli XCX and by Swedish super producer Max Martin's publishing company, Rae has co-written every song, with the album produced between Los Angeles, New York and songs from the album have already been released – with last year's summer hit Diet Pepsi by far the biggest success reached the top 10 in the UK singles chart and served as Rae's breakthrough can expect "hypnotic, trance-like pop songs, pulsating and lush" on the album with lyrics that make you feel "young, fun and free" according to Rolling Stone writer Brittany Spanos. Other highlights this week Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius, episode 2, airs on Monday on BBC Two and iPlayerInaugural SXSW London Music Festival starts on MondayThe First Gentleman, by Bill Clinton and James Patterson, is out on MondayLockerbie: Our Story is available on iPlayer on Monday and on BBC Two and BBC Scotland on TuesdayKurt Cobain Unplugged runs at the Royal College of Music Museum from TuesdaySummer Game Fest kicks off three days of big reveals and trailers on FridayPulp are releasing their new album, More, on FridayThe Gold drops on iPlayer and BBC One on Sunday
Geeky Gadgets
16 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Microsoft 365 Copilot's Create App : The Future of Effortless Content Creation?
What if creating professional-grade content was no longer a time-consuming, multi-tool process? Imagine generating polished videos, tailored visuals, and branded documents—all from a single platform, guided by the power of AI. With the launch of the Create app for Microsoft 365 Copilot, this vision becomes a reality. Seamlessly integrated into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, this innovative tool enables users to produce a wide range of content with remarkable speed and precision. Whether you're an individual creator or part of a collaborative team, the Create app promises to transform how you approach content creation, letting you focus on creativity while automating the repetitive. John Moore explores how the Create app redefines efficiency and personalization in modern content workflows. From AI-driven image generation to platform-specific resizing, the app offers a suite of tools designed to meet diverse needs, all while maintaining brand consistency. You'll discover how its intuitive interface, advanced customization features, and seamless export options make it accessible to both beginners and seasoned professionals. But beyond its features, the Create app raises an intriguing question: how far can AI take us in simplifying creative processes without compromising quality? Let's explore the possibilities together. Microsoft 365 Create App Overview Accessing the Create App Getting started with the Create app is simple and accessible. To use the app, you need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and access to the Copilot web interface. The app is available online at or allowing you to work from any device without the need for additional software installations. This web-based approach ensures that users across industries can access the app conveniently, whether they are working from a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. The flexibility of this platform makes it a practical solution for professionals on the go or teams collaborating remotely. Key Features: Comprehensive Tools for Content Creation The Create app uses advanced AI to simplify complex tasks, allowing users to produce a wide variety of content types efficiently. Its core features include: Image Generation: Use text prompts to create custom images, apply stylistic effects, and adjust dimensions to meet specific requirements. Use text prompts to create custom images, apply stylistic effects, and adjust dimensions to meet specific requirements. Video Production: Combine text-to-speech scripts, stock footage, and PowerPoint slides to assemble professional-grade videos. Combine text-to-speech scripts, stock footage, and PowerPoint slides to assemble professional-grade videos. Custom Forms and Visuals: Design banners, posters, and other visuals tailored to specific formats and resolutions. Design banners, posters, and other visuals tailored to specific formats and resolutions. Document Drafting: Generate Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files with AI assistance, significantly reducing the time and effort required for content creation. These features cater to a broad spectrum of users, from individual creators to enterprise teams, offering tools that adapt to various content needs. By automating repetitive tasks, the app allows users to focus on creativity and strategy. New Create App for Microsoft 365 Copilot Watch this video on YouTube. Here are more guides from our previous articles and guides related to Microsoft 365 Copilot that you may find helpful. Personalization and Branding Capabilities The Create app places a strong emphasis on customization, allowing users to align their content with specific needs and brand identities. Key personalization features include: Advanced Image Editing: Modify images with tools for background removal, color adjustments, and layering effects to achieve a polished look. Modify images with tools for background removal, color adjustments, and layering effects to achieve a polished look. Corporate Branding: Use pre-configured brand kits to ensure consistency across all materials, from presentations to social media posts. Use pre-configured brand kits to ensure consistency across all materials, from presentations to social media posts. Platform-Specific Resizing: Quickly resize content for various platforms, including social media, print, and digital displays. These tools ensure that your content remains professional, visually cohesive, and aligned with your brand, regardless of the platform or purpose. This level of customization makes the app particularly valuable for businesses aiming to maintain a consistent brand image. User-Friendly Interface and Design The Create app is designed with an intuitive interface that simplifies the content creation process, making it accessible to users of all skill levels. Key interface features include: Templates: Access a wide selection of customizable templates to jumpstart your projects and save time. Access a wide selection of customizable templates to jumpstart your projects and save time. Industry-Specific Designs: Explore templates tailored to sectors such as healthcare, retail, and education, making sure relevance and professionalism. Explore templates tailored to sectors such as healthcare, retail, and education, making sure relevance and professionalism. Prompt Refinement: Edit and refine AI-generated outputs iteratively to achieve your desired results, giving you greater control over the final product. This intuitive design ensures that both beginners and experienced professionals can navigate the app with ease, allowing them to produce high-quality content efficiently. Export and Sharing Options The Create app simplifies the process of exporting and sharing your content, making sure it is ready for use across various platforms. Export options include: File Formats: Download your creations in formats such as PNG, JPEG, or PDF, depending on your specific needs. Download your creations in formats such as PNG, JPEG, or PDF, depending on your specific needs. Content Credentials: Embed transparency and attribution details directly into your files to maintain integrity and authenticity. These features make it easy to distribute your content while preserving its quality and making sure proper attribution. Whether you are sharing internally within a team or publishing externally, the app provides the tools to do so seamlessly. Learning Resources and Support To help users maximize the potential of the Create app, Microsoft offers a variety of learning resources and support options. These include: FAQs and Documentation: Access detailed guides and troubleshooting tips on and . Access detailed guides and troubleshooting tips on and . Step-by-Step Tutorials: Learn advanced features such as brand kits and video creation through upcoming tutorials designed to enhance your skills. These resources are designed to help users navigate the app's features effectively, making sure they can optimize their workflow and achieve their content creation goals. Empowering Modern Content Creation The Create app for Microsoft 365 Copilot offers a versatile and efficient solution for modern content creation. By combining AI-driven tools with seamless integration into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, it enables users to generate high-quality content with minimal effort. From crafting custom visuals and videos to applying corporate branding and resizing for various platforms, the app provides a comprehensive suite of tools to meet diverse content needs. Its user-friendly interface, robust export options, and extensive learning resources make it an invaluable asset for both enterprises and individual creators. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to content creation, the Create app equips you with the tools to produce impactful, professional-grade content efficiently. Media Credit: John Moore Filed Under: AI, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
