'Borderlands 3' Boss Responds To Controversy Over Epic Games

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Earlier this week, developer Gearbox and publisher 2K announced Borderlands 3's release date alongside the news that the PC version will be exclusive to the Epic Games Store at launch, and for six months after launch. In other words, the game won't embrace the Steam storefront until April 2020. And of course this caused many PC gamers to riot and hit social media and gaming forums with their displeasure.

In addition to protesting on Reddit, Twitter, and more, many PC gamers took to Steam to review bomb Borderlands 2. For those that don't know: review bombing is when, in mass, gamers leave negative reviews for a game that don't have anything to do with the game's quality in order to send some type of message to developers and publishers. It's a questionable tactic, and one that's not as effective as it used to be thanks to new measures taken by Steam to thwart such practices.



Steam has largely countered the "off-topic" review bombing, but not before Gearbox and 2K heard about it. At one point during the whole debacle, Gearbox developer Scott Velasquez retweeted a post showing the review bombing as it was happening, shaming the misuse of the system and Steam for allowing such an exploit. Replying to this, Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford expressed how he felt about the situation, and as you would guess, he wasn't very happy about it.

“Ironically, that this misuse is possible and that Steam has no interest in correct this misuse makes me kind of happy about 2K’s decision [to release Borderlands 3 on the Epic Games Store] and makes me want to reconsider Gearbox Publishing’s current posture on the platform,” tweeted Pitchford.

It's worth pointing out what Pitchford alleges here isn't very accurate. Steam has begun to take measures to prevent review bombing. In fact, its new system in place -- which you can read about here -- is being tested out for the first time with Borderlands 2, and it's actually working.

Borderlands 3 is poised to release on September 13 via the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

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Source: https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/04/07/borderlands-3-pc-epic-games-store-steam-boss-responds/

Comments

"'Borderlands 3' Boss Responds To Controversy Over Epic Games" :: Login/Create an Account :: 10 comments

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ReckzXPPPosted:

Get over your self just buy it on the epic store

LGWPosted:

Just use the Epic Launcher, what's the point in sitting whining? The game will still be the same. Then Steam users 'review bombing' hahahahaha so embarrassing.

AnimePosted:

Would rather see this on steam.

XBL-ABPosted:

If you participate in review bombing you should be banned

ScxttPosted:

April 2020 until it hits steam? Yet another company doing something to gain more money, what a surprise

k3rryPosted:

Waiting 6 months, which by then your friends will probably be playing other games waiting for DLC... Still hyped to play Borderlands 3 and I really hope it lives up to Borderlands 2 or even better, although I'm getting tired of publishers doing annoying things like this for profit, 6 months is way too long, a week or 2 would be fine imo. Sucks for the gamers, but I hope the game will be good enough to wait for steam, although I will most likely end up getting it on Epic launcher if my friends want to play it when it comes out in September, adding another account to my 15+ accounts, probably gonna have to come up with another username. Sorry for my anger on this post, just a gaming franchise I love so much.

PeerPosted:

april 2020 for steam :/ rip i hate fortnut

MazePosted:

Lmao pc gamers are in true state of trouble right now. Heaven forbid the remember an extra password or complain about spyware while they use there 3k gaming rig to browse Facebook.

HuxPosted:

-Deano What a surprise the money monkeys don't take into account WHY this is happening. There is an entire lack of communication between consumers and producers; this is the only way people can actually get them to begin listening.

All of the AAA devs seem to forget that Steam is why half of them are even successful in the first place, especially for PC games. When you do anti-consumer practices, what do you expect the consumers to do, sit there and take it? Of course not. This is the avenue for people to get their voices heard. Take a hint instead of sitting there with your head up your own ass.


You do realise that it's not the Borderlands 3 devs who chose to put the game on Epic Store? It's their publishers, which is why it's frustrating for the devs.

-DeanoPosted:

What a surprise the money monkeys don't take into account WHY this is happening. There is an entire lack of communication between consumers and producers; this is the only way people can actually get them to begin listening.

All of the AAA devs seem to forget that Steam is why half of them are even successful in the first place, especially for PC games. When you do anti-consumer practices, what do you expect the consumers to do, sit there and take it? Of course not. This is the avenue for people to get their voices heard. Take a hint instead of sitting there with your head up your own ass.