New Borderlands old-gen only because "that's where demand lives"

GR-UK writes: "With confirmation that a new Borderlands title is in the works came the news that it's not being developed (currently anyway) for Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

Gearbox's Randy Pitchford gave a few reasons when queried about the decision, stating that it's a mixture of lower install bases ("there are fewer Xbox Ones and PS4s than we sold copies of Borderlands 2") and financial viability ("it's not free to build a game on next-gen").

"When you're deciding where to spend your resources, I think we want to spend all of the attention we can on the game itself," he rationalised when asked directly about the decision, explaining that not everybody's upgraded to the newer systems, but nearly everybody who has a newer system also owns one of the older consoles.

"If you imagine where that demand lives," he said, "it lives on the Xbox 360, PS3, PC. We don't know to what extent it will live on the next-gen.

"...If you try and imagine the set of Borderlands players have a...

[Snookies12]

If everyone thought that way, the new systems would be dead on arrival...

This coming from someone who doesn't even own a Wii U, PS4, or X1 yet.

[Summons75]

It's true though. Devs can't build a install base if they don't release games that people will actually want to buy a new system for but just like the effect we saw on the WiiU that is happening on the new systems, Devs won't release games without the install base. It's a nasty catch-22 and also very poor salesmanship. The whole point of selling your game is creating the desire to want to play it. A game like Borderlands has a great want behind it and will always be a best seller until the series falls apart or it ends, releasing it on next gen or even cross gen with next gen perks would create a want to buy new systems to play it.

They're only going to end up hurting themselves if they don't at least make it cross gen. A lot of people were upset set with it being a prequel to start but we'll see what they can pull off.

[shivvy24]

I don't get why they don't just release it on all systems, why restrict yourself to last gen when they can just port it to next gen consoles

[Flamingweazel]

Install base often doesnt mean much fr sales, See GT6, infamous, etc......

[BEASELY]

Exactly, all they need is Borderlands 3 and it will guaranteed at least a million between PS4/X1.

[ZodTheRipper]

LOL he can't be serious? If that's the reason prepare to be seriosly underwhelmed, Randy. Last-gen got more than enough Borderlands already, I can't see the masses getting excited for this. Also, you simply stop evolution at this point. Why not focus on next gen to get familiar with the hardware and an advantage to the competition? Even a failed next-gen game is a success if it gave you experience and a good understanding of the hardware since you will work with it for the next few years.

Stupid decision imo, just like releasing GT6 or Puppeteer on PS3 were.

[devwan]

I don't even bother taking the time to download the ps+ games on ps3 anymore - no time to play them. I'm not going to go out of my way to buy a ps3, I've had my ps4 since day #1, the only thing the ps3s get used for is old Lego games with son and wife.

The most dedicated 10m ps360 owners just went and bought new systems - their thirst for games is real. You can forget about the majority of that 10m buying full price ps360 games day #1, whereas you can bet you drop a AAA must-have game for their new system the pre-orders will be astounding. Don't misjudge the extent to which people are putting their older systems behind them.

[xHeavYx]

I agree,I think they should forget about the past gen and launch exclusively on PS4 and Xbox One

[Bennibop]

I wont be buying it as its not on what is now current gen (PS4 and X1.)

[DeathOfTheFanBoy]

I'll play it on my 360 or PC but would much rather it was coming out for XB1 (in my case) I, thought it was pretty straight forward to port from PC over to XB1/PS4? Randy is probably thinking about a 2nd release for next gen down the line in true milk king fashion...

[joydestroy]

i agree. i don't think this is a smart move.
also...
"there are fewer Xbox Ones and PS4s than we sold copies of Borderlands 2"
according to vgchartz (i know, not official) they have sold 4.39mil copies on PS3 + 360. there's currently over 10mil PS4 and Xbox One consoles out in the wild. what is he talking about??? there will surely be more out there by the time the game comes out.
can someone explain Pitchford's logic please.

[Dark11]

One of things i learned from last year , is never buy a money grab prequels
god of war ascension/gears of war judgment/Arkham Origins.

No thank you 2K.

[FunAndGun]

Ascension had one of the most original and solid MP experiences. There was not a single game all of last gen that was anything like it.

To me, a money grab doesn't bring anything new to the table and that is just not true with Ascension.

[LackTrue4K]

I'm going to be upset if this stays on old-gen!!! If it dose, they can forget about me buying there Vita title!!

[Rickgrimes95]

I hope this sells badly, shoulda at least been multi-platform

[dcj0524]

Just make it cross-gen and port the PC version to Wii U X1 and PS4.

[3-4-5]

A Borderlands game on Wii U would be beautiful.

I think the gamepad could be that "extra" thing that makes it the " go to " version of the game simply because of the ease of use.

* Cel shaded looking visuals and the Art Style > Realistic graphics of this series would BE PERFECT for Wii U & Nintendo.

I want to see more games that at least look like this, and hopefully play like this as well on the Wii U.

[Back-to-Back]

I hope this flops hard. Gearbox should be smart to realize part of their community has transitioned to the next gen.

[ArbitorChief]

It's coming to PC, that's good enough for me.

[TitanUp]

i bought a current gen system, the ps4 and i have that so why would i want to play anything on a ps3. that thing is a technological fossil.

[Ratty]

I'm still playing on my PS3 but I'll always put PS4 games first in my list. I don't think I bought a PS3 game since the PS4 came out.

I understand that games like Dark Souls 2 aren't on currengen because they were in development before it was even announced but newer games have no reason not to do it. I'm definitely not getting it on lastgen.

[NYC_Gamer]

There is no reason why they couldn't port the game over to PS4&Xbox One

[LightofDarkness]

Hey look, Gearbox are also cheap now. Well you boys just sit tight and play it safe, Risk/Reward is obviously not a big deal for you. Just don't be surprised when you're left in the cold over the course of the next gen.

[Flamingweazel]

Clueless and dumb reasoning, for 1 another borderlands game now is too soon, it's a cash grab. Last gen sales have tanked even software, people are ready to move to next gen and are simply not willing to buy last gen games much anymore. This will flop, moronic decisions and reasoning by gerbox. they will hurt the BL franchise with this cash grab. it will be very dated and is coming out close to Destiny, The order, and other next gen hyped games.

[NovusTerminus]

Yes. And the lack of next gen games can make a franchise bigger. Look at Infamous, it gain a massive amount of attention due to the release window.

And there are 10mil X1 and PS4's combined... I don't think B2 sold that much...

[Npugz7]

What a bunch of retards! Stupidest excuse I heard from a lazy developer!

[Volkama]

He's right though. Console launches are an uphill slog for Sony/MS/Nintendo. They have to hit a critical mass of adoptors to make the platform a lucrative proposition for publishers, and until they hit that mass they bare the full weight of making the console appealing to consumers.

This time around the publishers do seem to be recognising that it is in their best long term interest to chip in with that effort, EA and Ubisoft in particular seem keen to contribute beyond just throwing us the odd cheap port.

Still, neglecting to even offer the direct port? They have a PC version, it can't be that big an endeavour to throw the new consoles some scraps.

[MegaRay]

Yup, PS3/360 has lot of units sold, bbut PS4/1 will grow month after month and year after year.

[ElementX]

Thank goodness I also have a PC!

[SixtyNine]

you can say that again ^_^.

[ElementX]

Thank goodness I also have a PC!!

[CrossingEden]

but.... ಥ_ಥ

[MidnytRain]

I like this

[NicSage]

I really love the Borderlands franchise but to pass on current gen systems for previous is silly, lots of people will pass on the game i'm sure.

It will sell but not as much as they hope, then the " definitive edition " will release to the current gen systems.

I'm tired of saying " next gen " it's freaking current or this generation... when will it stop? Will the rumors of PS5/XboxTwo be " nexter gen " thats not even a word but you get my point due to the fact of how retarded this is.

[jay2]

But there's billions of people that have PC, 3-4mill next gen as well. can't believe that another good game dumbed down because of hardware limitations.

[OrangePowerz]

I think they underestimated how well next gen would sell when they started development on the game.

[Parasyte]

Seriously, a prequel? Last gen only?

Randy, you have seriously lost your mind.

[Emilio_Estevez]

Never understood the Borderlands hype. Probably would have tried again if it went Next-Gen only, but I guess that won't be happening.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

I'd be dead without my PS3 so this doesn't affect me. But it'd still be best if this was current gen because I am getting a PS4 soon enough :3

[AnEwGuY]

Yeah? Well, current gen is where my $$ lives, bltch.

[UnwanteDreamz]

Well said.

[InTheLab]

Gonna pass here. He's sounding more like Aliens Randy than pre Borderlands 2 Randy.

I'm not buying any more last gen games or any of these cross gen games that were ported from last gen.

It's been over 8 years. It's time to move on.

And Prequel? Haven't we learned anything from God of War Ascension, Gears of War Judgement, and Batman Arkham Origins?

[lemoncake]

They need to make as much money as possible after that aliens game. I expect more of a borderlands 2.5 than 3.

[Parasyte]

Am I the only one that is getting the feeling that this is nothing more than a glorified DLC?

[JaredH]

After God of War Ascension, Gears of War Judgement and Batman Arkham Origins I think I'll pass. I'm not supporting this prequel fad going around anymore even if they're trying to be cute by calling it a pre-sequel.

Also, it sounds like GearBox isn't developing it either which is worrying considering their past "collaborations".

[Salooh]

Their lost -.- . Huge support for the new consoles games because not a lot compete. I guess they cant see that. Just look at theif for example. It sold well for a normal game so imagine a fun well known game like borderlands. Second son just sold 1 million. Thats huge for an install like that...

[chaosx]

Install base???? if that was a concern then BL 2 wouldn't be coming to Vita….

Also this feels like a another Gears of war judgement/Halo ODST…. DLC gone in a retail pack…

[Blacklash93]

I imagine they're waiting until to the full business transition to next-gen before making Borderlands 3.