That "Long Time" Randy Pitchford Warned About Was Apparently One Month

Well, that was fast. It feels like only yesterday that Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford was on Twitter, telling unhappy fans to get a refund for Borderlands 4 because it wouldn't be on sale for "a long time." It turns out his definition of a "long time" is roughly the lifespan of a housefly.

Just one month after its chaotic launch, Borderlands 4 is currently sitting on the Steam store with a fat 20% discount. It’s a move so predictable you could set your watch to it, and it makes Pitchford’s previous tough-guy stance look even more ridiculous in hindsight.

A Tweet for Everything

This whole saga started back when the game launched and players had the audacity to be upset about its technical state. In a now-infamous exchange, Pitchford basically told everyone to get a refund if they didn't like the game, puffing out his chest and insisting that a sale was nowhere on the horizon.

It was a bold, if completely idiotic, marketing strategy. It's one thing to defend your game, but it's another to dare your customers to bail while simultaneously making promises you have absolutely no intention of keeping.

The Internet Remembers

Of course, the internet never forgets. A thread on Reddit immediately popped up, pointing out the glaring contradiction with a level of sarcasm that would make me proud. One user summed up the entire situation perfectly: "I'm beginning to think this Randy guy isn't a reliable source of information." You don't say.

This is just another Tuesday in the games industry. An executive makes a bold proclamation to defend a rocky launch, the marketing department ignores them completely, and players are left wondering why they ever listen to these guys in the first place. If you were waiting for that discount, your "long time" is finally over.