Borderlands 4 Collector's Edition Looks Awesome, But Has…

A special Borderlands 4 bundle has landed the game back into hot water, as the expensive package doesn't even include a playable copy. Gearbox's upcoming looter shooter has faced a lot of highs and lows leading up to its release, and it seems the controversies are not over yet. With Borderlands 4 just over a month out, the game is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Pricing has been a hot-button issue for the game and its fanbase over the past few months. After speculation began swirling about a potential $80 price point, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford poured gasoline on the fire by saying real Borderlands fans would "find a way to make it happen," no matter how much the title costs. While things have since cleared up, the memory of those comments may be back in many gamers' minds amid the latest Borderlands 4 pricing controversy.

borderlands-4-price-controversy-standard-deluxe-super-deluxe-editions-80-dollars-130-content-dlc-post-launch-playable-vault-hunters-story-good-bad-why

Borderlands 4 Put One Controversy to Rest Just to Dive Headfirst into Another

Borderlands 4 barely had the time to nip a controversy in the bud before another came up, but they share the same roots.

Posts 3

By Andrea Trama

The team over at Gearbox found itself amid another round of unwanted attention as fans criticized the company for not including the game itself in the $149.99 Collector's Edition. The official Gearbox Twitter account clarified that this was an error, and that the package in question was actually the ECHO-4 bundle, not the Collector's Edition. Still, the GameStop exclusive does, in fact, cost $150 and is sold separately from the game, including only collectibles like an ECHO-4 figurine, a cloth map of Kairos, and four double-sided art prints. Now that it's confirmed that Borderlands 4 will cost the industry-standard $70, this means the merch bundle costs twice as much as the actual game.

Borderlands 4's $150 ECHO-4 Bundle Does Not Include the Game Itself

The Borderlands 4 ECHO-4 bundle is far from the first limited edition set to draw criticism from gamers for what it does or doesn't include. In late 2024, Xbox fans expressed disappointment that the Avowed Physical Steelbook edition didn't have a physical game disc, despite what its name might suggest. Digital download copies in premium editions are an all-too-familiar sight for gamers today, but not including any version of the game is unusual, even in this current market.

devolver still trolling pitchford borderlands 4

It's unclear if the ECHO-4 bundle would've attracted as much controversy if it had been correctly labeled from the start. However, the confusion and contentious cost are not the only things causing a stir among the fan base right now. Pitchford has suggested that Borderlands 4 may not go on sale for a long time, and the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game is coming out nearly a month after its release on other platforms.

Looter Shooter

Action

Adventure

RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%

Released: September 12, 2025
ESRB: Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s): Gearbox Software
Publisher(s): 2K

Borderlands 4 Boss Comments on Fan Negativity Ahead of Game’s September Launch

8 Images

Borderlands 4 brings intense action, badass Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant.

Crash into Kairos as one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities.

Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing Mayhem across the planet.

BE A BADASS
Become an unstoppable force of battle, blasting through enemies with an all-new arsenal of outrageous weaponry. Move across the Borderlands like never before—double jumping, gliding, dodging, grappling, and more—dealing death from every direction. Explode each encounter with devastating Action Skills that unleash your Vault Hunter's unique abilities. Craft your perfect build with branching skill trees and a deep, rewarding loot chase full of wild weapons and powerful gear.

FIGHT SOLO OR CO-OP
Wreaking havoc across Kairos is awesome alone and even better with friends in 4-player online co-op.* Borderlands 4 is designed for co-op from the ground up; whether you're hunting for loot, tackling missions, or wandering freely, level scaling and individual difficulty keeps the party together and having fun.

LESS BORDERS, MORE LANDS
Freely explore a vast and dangerous world rife with warring factions. Hop on your hover bike and ride through lush fields, towering peaks, and deadly deserts full of fearsome enemies, dynamic events, and engaging quests with unforgettable characters. Unite the people of Kairos and ignite a revolution, tackling this adventure however you see fit in a seamless Borderlands experience.