Randy Pitchford wants dissatisfied Borderlands 4 players to get their money back. The Gearbox CEO took to social media with unusual advice for frustrated PC gamers experiencing performance problems: “Please get a refund from Steam if you aren’t happy.”
The statement arrived during a wave of complaints about the game’s rocky PC launch. Players report stuttering gameplay, random crashes, and suspected memory leaks that worsen during longer sessions. Some describe the frame pacing as wildly inconsistent, making the fast shooter feel sluggish and unresponsive.
Not everyone faces these issues. Console players paint a different picture, with PlayStation 5 owners reporting smooth performance. Even on PC, experiences vary wildly. Players with high-end graphics cards and DLSS enabled describe acceptable gameplay, while others struggle regardless of their hardware specs.
Gearbox released an early patch focused on stability improvements. Players say crashes happen less frequently now, but the core performance problems remain. The stuttering and frame drops that plague many PC setups haven’t been fixed. Steam reviews reflect this mixed reception, with the game hovering around a lukewarm 60% positive rating.
Steam’s standard refund policy allows returns within 14 days of purchase if you’ve played less than two hours. To request a refund, navigate to your purchase history in your Steam account, select Borderlands 4, and click “Request a refund.” Valve typically approves requests that meet these criteria automatically.
When the boss says bail
Gaming executives rarely encourage refunds. The most famous example happened with Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, when CD Projekt Red’s refund suggestion contributed to Sony temporarily removing the game from PlayStation Store. No such drastic measures have hit Borderlands 4, and there’s no indication of special refund arrangements beyond Steam’s normal policy.
For players determined to stick with Borderlands 4, standard PC troubleshooting might help. Update graphics drivers, disable overlay software, experiment with upscaler settings, and consider capping frame rates to reduce spikes. Watch for official patch notes announcing performance fixes. Until then, Pitchford’s message is clear: if you’re not having fun, take your money and run.
