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Borderlands 3 Won't Be At E3, Gearbox Claims (Kind Of)

A rose by any other name.

41 Comments

Gearbox head Randy Pitchford has publicly denied rumors that Borderlands 3 will be shown at E3 this year. The founder and president produced a string of tweets centered around magic tricks, and embedded the announcement in the middle of them.

The denial appears clear enough, but it's just odd enough to keep us speculating. Why is the name in quotation marks? Why couch it in a long talk about illusions and trickery? Why is it phrased as a hypothetical at all? It stands to reason that Pitchford could be attempting some clever misdirection, and that we'll see Borderlands 3 in some form at the event--even if it's not called by that name.

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Or, alternately, Pitchford could be legitimately telling fans not to expect the game at the show this year, and he's using some imagery from his other passion--stage magic--to illustrate his point. If that's the case and Borderlands 3 is nowhere to be found, we can't say he didn't warn us.

Pitchford did finish the tweet thread by thanking fans for their passion and support and saying that Gearbox is "working harder than we have ever worked in order to create new and exciting things." Last year, Pitchford obliquely hinted at Borderlands 3, saying that 90% of the studio was "working on the thing I think most of you guys want us to be working on." He probably didn't mean Battleborn 2, so we've been expecting a Borderlands 3 confirmation ever since. Take-Two has hinted that one of its biggest franchises will get a new entry by early next year.

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OrgeLambart

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Randy PItchfork is a modern day Ringmaster, he spins crap

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deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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One of Walmart's leaks proved to be true, so now it's even more likely that Borderlands 3/whatever is coming.

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Pyrosa

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Borderworlds

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XenomorphAlien

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I find this franchise overrated. Bring on Bioshock.

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Rekonym

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Edited By Rekonym

I suppose that they realized that showing a most-likely very early in-development Borderlands 3 at E3 now that we got a (probably) near-completed Rage 2, and we know it's basically Mad Max-meets-Doom-meets(probably)-Borderlands, then there's essentially no point for the actual Borderlands 3 "reveal" for this year's E3. Better wait for next year's, instead.

If Rage 2 has nothing to do with this (seemingly coincidental) announcement then maybe Borderlands 3 is genuinely way too early in development still to this point to show anything worthy at E3 (regardless of Rage 2 or anything else there this year that would resemble a Borderlands style game). To be honest though, I did honestly think that this year would be the right time for an official BL3 reveal, and that they would have been working on it for at least long enough to show us a few things, or at least give us the gist of the game's planned features.

All in all though, I'm not upset about this news. If there's really not enough to show, if it's way too early and too many things could change then indeed, please, don't show us anything. Wait until the game's main features and gameplay mechanics are set in stone and working, then show us what you have.

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deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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@rekonym: Er...why would 2K be afraid of Rage 2? Rage's reception was just okay.

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inebriantia

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@Barighm: Because at least from the trailer, it has a very Borderlands feel and look to it. I don't think it's be a direct competitor but I can see how ppl can think that.

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deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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@inebriantia: It's just a trailer. How does a trailer for the follow-up of a mediocre shooter beat the hype for a game with megahit status?

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inebriantia

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@Barighm: I dunno..

Rage while flawed has some promise and sold well. Trailers hype ppl up, and the gameplay looked fun as hell. The fact that this one is being made with the Just Cause and Mad Max devs has ppl excited on top of it.

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PlaystationZone

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Oh cares gearbox worst 3rd game company out that . Look what did with alien game and duke nuken series . If borderlines 3 won’t be at E3 you know gearbox set destroy that game as well. Gearbox is just like sumo digital don’t how make a game without screwing up.

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deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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Borderlands 3 will not be at E3.

BORDERWORLDS, on the other hand, was possibly already outed by Walmart.

Maybe you haven't heard, but Pitchford is a bold faced liar.

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spartanx169x

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Edited By spartanx169x

@Barighm: This is the first I've heard of Borderworlds , but it makes sense. the Prequel more or less showed they were headed in that direction, more than one planet that is. It could very well end up similar to Destiny in that regard, with more content of course.

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Pyrosa

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@spartanx169x: Both 2 and prequel showed it, and they trademarked Borderworlds ages ago.

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spartanx169x

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@Pyrosa: Well I said that simply because the first game was based on another planet that alone says they could expand to other planets. I don't recall it hinted at in 2 but i believe you. Never heard that they trademarked Borderworlds. I guess I missed that.

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inebriantia

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@spartanx169x: Well in 2 it was revealed that there's tons of vaults and a map to them all. Then the pre-sequel ending that takes place after the second game, the Eridian showed up telling them to gather as many vault hunters they could bc a war was coming.

This has led to a great deal of speculation.

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spartanx169x

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@inebriantia: Yeah I actually remember all that, now that you mention it. Thanks!

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inebriantia

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@spartanx169x: No problem, I Uhhh spent way too much time with this series..

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DaVillain

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DaVillain  Moderator

Must be in development hell. Makes sense, given Randy Pitchford's notorious incompetence and mismanagement of games. Guess I'll have to check out Rage 2 now, in lack of Borderlands 3.

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redhedjack

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Calling it right now, Bord3rlands is going to become to new Half-Life 3.

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Xristophoros

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Edited By Xristophoros

@redhedjack: naw. gearbox has nothing else going for it as a studio. they are getting desperate due to battleborn being a massive failure, and will put out borderlands 3 by the end of 2020. it might even be released next year for all we know.

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gamingdevil800

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@Xristophoros: Yeah Duke Nukem Forever, Aliens Colonial Marines and Battleborn were all pretty terrible. The former two being two big opportunities they screwed up.

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inebriantia

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@gamingdevil800: Shame too bc Battleborn really had something. I loved the characters, and gameplay, but it wasn't marketed well, came out against Overwatch, and had 2 way too long betas that really burnt ppl out. The campaign also lacked variety.

Again, really good foundation, I felt, just failed bc of some key screw ups.

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PlaystationZone

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@gamingdevil800: yep worst company gearbox just like EA games, activevision and sumo digital and by way crackdown 3 won’t be good because sumo digital since be full of bugs just like did lbp3 .

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deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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@gamingdevil800: You clearly don't understand the situation surrounding DNF. They were given a mess of random assets and told to make it into a game on the super cheap. They did and it still sold millions. It was a market test. A successful one, at that. The next Duke will be much better. And I don't know why anyone thinks Marines was gonna be this great game. It was just another shooter.

Battleborn is a much better example of an opportunity they squandered. They should never have allowed the game to release with such a bad framerate. Granted, they really shouldn't have entered such a competitive field.

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Xristophoros

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Edited By Xristophoros

@Barighm: duke nukem is an ip from what feels like another world when looking at it in 2018. that type of schlock will only ever rear its ugly head as a budget title, if that. not a chance any publisher is going to give a B tier game like duke nukem the time and resources of a AAA game. gamingdevil800 is correct in that gearbox still has a lot to prove as a developer and their only saving grace is the borderlands franchise. that said, they won't be able to get away with just another borderlands sequel and will need to re-invent it to some degree. if it bombs, gearbox will be shut down without a doubt.

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deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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@Xristophoros: I don't agree with the idea that Gearbox has a lot to prove. That is no reason to deny them resources. As for Duke, all I said is that it's unfair for people to act like DNF was entirely on Gearbox when they were actually just trying to make the best of a bad situation and the next one will likely be better. Will there be a next one? Different question entirely. Social climate likely too harsh, but that assumes the game will be published by a publisher that cares.

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gamingdevil800

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That could well mean Bioshock will be revealed. Take Two said that 2K will be releasing a new entry in a loved franchise sometime in Q4. I assumed it was borderlands 3 before this.

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redhedjack

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@gamingdevil800: Seems unlikely. The BioShock team has since moved on to become Ghost Story Games and is developing a sci fi title similar to Irrational's previous games.

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inebriantia

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@redhedjack: There is another Bioshock in development. At least according to the Mafia 3 developers, part of their staff was taken to work in a secret studio next door.

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redhedjack

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Edited By redhedjack

@inebriantia: Well if the Mafia 3 guys are making it, I have my money on it not being even remotely close to the quality expected from the previous games.

If a follow up to BioShock is actually in the works tho, I feel it'd be wise to introduce it under a new name (if they want, they could still implement "shock" in the title as BioShock did being a spiritual successor to System Shock 2), just for the sake of marketing. Presenting it as a straight up new BioShock will cause whininess amongst the fans, I imagine.

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inebriantia

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@redhedjack: No, only a few of the best from Mafia team went. It stirred up a lot drama between the workers. Friends/co-workers leaving to go work on a top secret project, next door, caused a lot of issues.

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gamingdevil800

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@redhedjack: There have been rumours going around for ages and not Irrational. It is being developed by another 2K studio.

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redhedjack

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@gamingdevil800: I mean, the BioShock series was all wrapped up in a neat little bow. It'd feel unwise to make a straight up sequel/addition to the franchise. A spiritual successor, perhaps.

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Cikatriz_ESP

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Edited By Cikatriz_ESP

@gamingdevil800: Why does that mean Bioshock will be revealed? Because they wouldn’t reveal two big games at the same conference?

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gamingdevil800

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@Cikatriz_ESP: What other loved franchises have 2K got that they haven't touched in ages? I think Bioshock is the most notable one.

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spartanx169x

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Edited By spartanx169x

The author of this article is doing EXACTLY what Randy Pitchford refers to in his tweet. "Many of you will find a way to interpret the intent to suit what you want to believe regardless of what is true." Dear Steve you are doing exactly that. There is absolutely nothing odd about the tweet. It is in fact in your face what he is saying. He could be lying. If he is then we will know in the future to not believe any other future tweets. But as of now, we have no reason to think he is lying.

Side note, thanks for misleading me into clicking on this article.

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deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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@spartanx169x: The chances of him lying are actually very good. People always give the Colonial Marines example, but the one that got me was his stating The Pre-Sequel would not be released for next gen consoles. Six months or so later, they announced the Handsome Jack collection which would have saved me $80.

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spartanx169x

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@Barighm: I didn't know that. Point well made. I have enough games to play for a while, if they announce its fine, if they don't I'm cool with that as well.

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nefphlegm

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@spartanx169x: Mind games hype. They're aware everyone wants a Borderlands 3. They're withholding because it's good marketing. Just a dribble of information in order to keep them wanting more.

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spartanx169x

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Edited By spartanx169x

@nefphlegm:Well that only works once. If that is indeed the case and its shown at E3 then everybody will know to ignore Pitchford's tweets in the future.

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a687947

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Edited By a687947

@spartanx169x: it wouldn't even be a lie. Nowhere did he actually say that they wouldn't reveal a new Borderlands at E3. All he said is "I could say this one thing and people would find a way to interpret the statement in a way that confirms their beliefs."

I'm not personally expecting the game to be shown at E3, the last time they showed anything was last year and it was just a lighting/material tech demo so they probably didn't have much beyond a concept or prototype at the time, but that tweet wasn't a claim that it won't be there. I'd expect a reveal at Gamescom later this year or PAX or GDC next year

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