Borderlands 4 Sales Disappoint Despite Record Launch: Take-Two
In a surprising turn of events from its latest investor call, Take-Two Interactive has revealed that Borderlands 4 fell short of the company's internal sales expectations. The news comes as a shock to many, considering the title enjoyed the biggest launch in the franchise's history and secured a spot as the third-highest-selling game of 2025.
While much of the day's focus was on the revised release window for Grand Theft Auto 6, new details about the performance of Gearbox Software's latest looter-shooter have painted a complex picture of its commercial success. According to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, despite monumental initial sales, the game's long-term trajectory was hampered, with a key factor being the technical state of the game on one of its major platforms.
The Paradox of a Disappointing Bestseller
For a game to achieve a record-setting launch for a beloved series and still be considered an underperformer highlights the sky-high expectations placed on AAA releases in today's market. Borderlands 4 was a commercial behemoth by any standard metric, moving millions of units and dominating sales charts upon its release. However, publishers like Take-Two Interactive forecast sales not just for the launch window but for subsequent months and quarters, factoring in player retention and ongoing monetization.
When a game's momentum slows faster than anticipated, it can cause it to miss these carefully calculated internal targets, even if it remains one of the year's top sellers. This appears to be the case for Pandora's latest adventure, which started strong but couldn't maintain the pace Take-Two had hoped for.
PC Port Problems Cited as Primary Culprit
During a subsequent discussion, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick directly addressed the performance gap, placing the blame squarely on the optimization issues that plagued the PC version of Borderlands 4 at launch. He suggested that persistent technical problems on PC created negative sentiment that curtailed the game's sales potential on the platform and may have impacted perception across the board.
While the console versions were reportedly more stable, the PC community faced a number of challenges, including:
- Inconsistent frame rates, even on high-end hardware
- Texture pop-in and graphical glitches
- Occasional crashes and stability issues
These types of problems can quickly sour the experience for a dedicated player base and lead to negative reviews and word-of-mouth, which can be detrimental to a game's long-term success. In an era where post-launch player retention is critical, a rocky technical start can prove to be a significant financial hurdle.
A Massive Launch That Couldn't Sustain Momentum
The initial success of Borderlands 4 cannot be overstated. The hype leading up to its 2025 release was immense, fueled by years of anticipation following the success of its predecessor. This excitement translated into the "biggest launch in franchise history," a significant achievement for a series that has been a tentpole for both Gearbox and publisher 2K.
However, the story of Borderlands 4 serves as a modern cautionary tale. An explosive launch can secure impressive early numbers, but sustained success depends on a smooth, polished experience across all platforms. The technical shortcomings on PC appear to have been a significant enough drag to prevent the game from reaching the ambitious financial goals set by its publisher.
What This Means for the Future of the Franchise
Take-Two and Gearbox are undoubtedly working to address the game's technical issues with ongoing patches and support. The sales figures, while below internal projections, are still massive and prove the Borderlands IP is as strong as ever. The key takeaway for the publisher is likely the critical importance of technical parity and polish for all versions of a game at launch.
Moving forward, fans can expect the development teams to heavily prioritize the performance of future downloadable content and updates for Borderlands 4. The publisher has a vested interest in rehabilitating the game's technical image to encourage lapsed players to return and to ensure the game has a healthy life cycle for years to come.
Borderlands 4 Sales FAQ
Was Borderlands 4 a failure?
No, not by traditional metrics. The game was the third-highest-selling title of 2025 and had the biggest launch in the history of the series. However, it failed to meet the specific, higher sales expectations set internally by its publisher, Take-Two Interactive.
What were the specific issues with the PC version?
Reports indicated that the PC port of Borderlands 4 suffered from performance issues, including unstable frame rates, graphical bugs, and general optimization problems that made for a less-than-ideal experience for some players.
Will Borderlands 4 still receive DLC and new content?
Yes. Given the game's overall commercial success and the franchise's history of robust post-launch support, it is virtually guaranteed that Borderlands 4 will receive multiple DLC packs and content updates.