Gearbox CEO Tells Borderlands 4 Players to Refund After Performance Complaints

The long-awaited launch of Borderlands 4 was supposed to be a celebration for fans of the chaotic looter-shooter series, but it quickly became overshadowed by criticism over performance issues. Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox, did not shy away from the backlash and fired back at frustrated players, telling them bluntly: “If you don’t like it, go refund it on Steam.”

From launch day, Borderlands 4 has been plagued with complaints of unstable frame rates and stuttering. Fans even coined the nickname “Stutterlands 4” to highlight their frustrations. Many players reported that the game struggled to maintain 30 FPS on minimum specs, while the recommended specs barely reached 60 FPS.

Pitchford has responded to these criticisms multiple times with a firm stance. Previously, he challenged critics by saying, “Then write your own game engine and see if you can do better.” In his latest post on X, he reinforced his view that game performance depends on the balance between hardware and software, and players need to accept those limitations.

When a fan argued that the game still ran poorly after days of tweaking and criticized reliance on DLSS or Frame Generation—comparing it to “buying a car that only drives 60 miles per hour if you wear drunk goggles”—Pitchford shot back that Borderlands 4 was designed to run well at 30 FPS and shine at 60 FPS.

He added that players always have the choice to adjust between frame rate, resolution, and visual quality to find their preferred balance. But if they are still unhappy, he insisted that refunds are available on Steam, or players can simply move on to a different game. As he put it bluntly, “A game is just a game.”

Pitchford also compared the situation to cars, explaining that you cannot put a Ferrari engine into a Monster Truck and expect it to behave like a Ferrari. Features like DLSS, he argued, are tools to improve the gaming experience, not mandatory fixes.

Borderlands 4 brings players to the planet Kairos, where they take on the role of treasure-seeking Vault Hunters facing off against the oppressive villain Timekeeper. Beyond loot and chaos, the story puts players in the middle of a revolution, using weapons, skills, and teamwork to ignite hope among the oppressed.

The controversy surrounding Borderlands 4 reflects the growing tension between player expectations and the technical limits of modern game development. While fans want flawless performance, developers continue to push hardware boundaries. The blunt remarks from Pitchford may spark further debate, but they underline one truth: in the end, players must decide whether the experience is worth keeping or refunding.