Take-Two CEO Comments on Borderlands 4 Sales Being “Softer” Than Anticipated, Attributes Issues to Weak PC Launch

Borderlands 4: Launch Successes and Sales Expectations

Borderlands 4 debuted with remarkable success, achieving the highest launch figures in the franchise’s history on PC. In its initial hours, the game attracted over 100, 000 concurrent players on Steam and eventually surpassed 300, 000 players during its opening weekend. Additionally, it sold an impressive 2 million units within the first week of its release. By September 2025, Borderlands 4 claimed the top position on US sales charts, marking it as one of the leading titles for the year thus far.

Mixed Reactions from Take-Two Interactive

Despite these promising numbers, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, revealed that the game’s sales performance was “softer”than anticipated. In a recent interview with The Game Business, Zelnick discussed the game’s performance in the context of the recent Grand Theft Auto VI delay announcement. He praised the critical response to Borderlands 4 but acknowledged that the commercial success did not meet the company’s expectations, highlighting performance issues and bugs that plagued the PC version at launch as key factors.

“The critical acclaim [for Borderlands 4] was superb, ”Zelnick stated, emphasizing the company’s satisfaction with the game’s launch. He added, “Nonetheless, there were some challenges with the Steam release. Gearbox has been addressing those issues and will continue to do so. So, although the initial sales figures were not quite what we anticipated, we are optimistic about the game’s long-term performance.”

Community Response and Ongoing Fixes

Upon launch, players experienced significant technical difficulties, which led Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford to engage in a heated exchange on social media. Addressing complaints about the game’s performance, Pitchford controversially labeled the PC version as “pretty optimal, ” drawing backlash from frustrated gamers.

Fortunately, as Zelnick mentioned, Gearbox has recognized the issues and is actively working on solutions. A recent patch implemented notable performance enhancements, boosting the game’s functionality by double digits.

As the developers continue to refine the experience, both fans and critics are hopeful that Borderlands 4 will eventually achieve the commercial success it deserves.

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