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Why Borderlands skipped Wii U

Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford says developer has yet to find "natural, obvious" feature that would take advantage of system.

252 Comments

Gearbox Software is supporting Wii U with its upcoming shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines, said to be the best-looking version of the game. However, that is the only Gearbox game or franchise in development for Nintendo's new system.

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Fans may be wondering why Gearbox is not planning to bring its popular Borderlands franchise to the Wii U. According to CEO Randy Pitchford, it's due to Gearbox not having yet found a compelling way to use the system.

“We get asked if there is going to be a Wii U version of Borderlands, and the reason why there’s not is because we couldn’t think of a 'natural, obvious OMG-I-want-that-for-what the-Wii-U-brings-to-the-table feature," Pitchford told GamesMaster (via Nintendo Everything).

On the other hand, bringing Aliens: Colonial Marines to the Wii U was an easy decision for Pitchford.

“But with Aliens, the first thing we thought was ‘Holy sh*t, I can have a motion controller in my hands!’ When it’s there in my lap it feels like I’m part of the movie," he said.

Borderlands is not the only established series that has elected to skip the Wii U. Dead Space 3, Resident Evil 6 and Metro: Last Light will not appear on the console. Additionally, it is not clear if Crysis 3 or Battlefield 3 will ship for the system.

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Avatar image for AtariKidX
AtariKidX

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The reason is that no one cares for the WiiU anymore.WiiU sucks.

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Avatar image for jenovaschilld
jenovaschilld

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Either this Rndy Pitchford is lying like chit, or the way he decides on what console to bring a game to is insane.

The decision on game porting should always be this formula, is development, resources, cost less then potential profit, future good will.

The correct way he should have answered, was "while we here at Gearbox are excited and interested at all the Wii U brings to the table, we are too far into development of amazing new IP's and continued content development for existing games and just simply do not have a workable timetable to accomplish all that we would like." In other words lie like a politician would.

If they at Gearbox actually do make decisions on how they port games on the ramblings above, i feel sorry for them.

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Meatbrawl

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@jenovaschilld Doesn't matter how you put it... it's all bullshit lies... Be nice if one of them just said... it can't be shown to be profitable enough

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jenovaschilld

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@Meatbrawl @jenovaschilld But there in lies the the rub, at the end of the day you still have to work with these tools. You cannot be a fanboy and still publish games. While the truth is always best, later down the road, you may have to do business with them and most probably will. Now a lie like, "I have not seen any slave trading going on" is different from - "Noo, that dress does not make your ass look fat".


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lowerclassbrat7

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Translation, we're waiting to see what the install base will be. If the Wii U sell ass tons then we will make a port.

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TheBigKabosh

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Edited By TheBigKabosh

I've always wondered if Sony/Microsoft were bullying devs.

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LadyBlue

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Dumb excuse.

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Szurkulet

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Edited By Szurkulet

What horrible reasoning. I don't see anyone saying that Borderlands 2 for either the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3 saying "Oh-my-god-I-want-to-play-this-on-PS3/XBOX360 because it's obviously naturally taking advantage or this specific system's capabilities". Just give us the real reason instead of complete and utter **** please.

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Szurkulet

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Language failure, but I'm sure you know what I mean.

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tsukikage123456

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I think gearbox should just make a little spin off game for the wiiu. Like clap traps awesome taticular platforms of firey skag death.

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ElFlechero

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How about thousands more customers to buy your game? That seems like a "natural, obvious" feature that Wii U could bring to Borderlands.

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zpluffy

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Wait until XBOX 720 or PS4 comes out. Wii U will just be another gamecube

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PicklePuffer

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@zpluffy Not sure if thats a compliment or not

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ElFlechero

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@PicklePuffer @zpluffy Everybody else who reads that comment is sure that it's not.

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Meatbrawl

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@ElFlechero @PicklePuffer @zpluffy Not everyone believes as you do... So you statement is in fact an opinion... only reason I bought xbox over gamecube was Halo. I felt it's awesomeness outweighed the titles on the gamecube, however other than Halo, I would have picked gamecube....

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PicklePuffer

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@skelly1331 @ElFlechero @zpluffy Console sales it did. Had alot more great games than the xbox also

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skelly1331

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@ElFlechero @PicklePuffer @zpluffy I thought the gamecube did pretty much as well as the xbox.

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Runock

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Edited By Runock

bleh

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Unfallen_Satan

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Edited By Unfallen_Satan

Not to mention the devs want to see whether there is even a significant market for FPS on the Wii U.

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jark888

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Give some time for developers to adapt to Wii U. Then, we'll see what Wii U is capable of.

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zpluffy

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@jark888

I can't adapt to an Operating System that takes 12 seconds to load just to go to settings with simple GUI.

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jark888

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@zpluffy I won't buy the thing until it could shows that it deserves some love. I might skip this one actually because Nintendo wouldn't build something that really last.

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skelly1331

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Having local co-op with one player on the TV and one on the gamepad would be awesome.

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SicklySunStorm

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@skelly1331 except the resolution of the gamepad is goddamn awful, so it would be a poor solution to whoever gets stuck with it.

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skelly1331

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@SicklySunStorm The resolution does suck but I still think it would be better than playing split screen. Playing co-op on black ops 2 with the gamepad looks pretty good and I read that even with the lower resolution the details and things in the distance are all still easy to see.

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ElFlechero

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@skelly1331 @SicklySunStorm split-screen, low resolution, I don't care, local multiplayer FTW!

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BestJinjo

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Edited By BestJinjo

@emptycow @Matcam89 Black Ops 2 can't hit 60 fps on Xbox 360 or PS3 and that's while running at 880x720 on Xbox 360 and 880x640 on PS3. LMAO. Please, all 3 consoles are obsolete tech. If you want next gen graphics, you get a PC. Even PS4/Xbox 720 will be a joke compared to today's PCs and compared to 2013 PCs, laughable.

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Rivboets7

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Borderlands is such a good game and from what I can think of there isn't really anything extra the WiiU can add.

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BestJinjo

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@Rivboets7 By that logic, what was the point of releasing BL2 on PS3/360 as they offer nothing over the PC version. Also, how do you explain the existence of hundreds of cross-platform games on Xbox 360 and PS3 as neither console offers any unique extra to each other in those titles in terms of actual gameplay factor? His explanation is just an excuse. The real reason is the game is no longer knew and the install base for the Wii U is too small. Chances are the people who wanted to play BL2 already purchased it for other systems. That means the cost of porting it and optimizing it for the Wii U may not be worth the sales of this games. Much like Mass Effect 1 was MIA on PS3.

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the_requiem

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@BestJinjo @Rivboets7 I think you're approaching from a wrong angle. So, let me put it in another way, or way I see it. Why does Borderlands2 not support Move or Kinect? I prefer Randy's answer coz it means that when they do release games on WiiU - they will be well thought out and not use Gamepad as a gimmick, will add something to game that X360 and PS3 will be lacking thus making it the definitive version to go for.

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Rivboets7

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@BestJinjo

All said was it couldn't really add anything new. I didn't say it shouldn't be released on the WiiU.

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Tzardok

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In all honest truth, there is one big problem with Wii U. It is from Nintendo.

They treat 3rd parties really bad, or perhaps should I say they are very Metroid, Mario, party, Pokemon, etc... focused (which is fine if this is the business they want).

Nintendo is not really attractive for other companies to work with, thats not to say the Wii U doesn't have certain advantages, but Nintendo could surely benefit from a stronger partners programs and incentive.

Me personnally? I rather wait until all 3 consoles are released and then make a decent decision on which one will be good for my playing style. I am very happy with current gen tecnology at this time, I can wait 1 more year, heck make that 2 years. But I am usually impressed with better detail and realism on graphics, thats my forecast.

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SicklySunStorm

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@Tzardok like

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thread-of-red

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Because they want to develop on real consoles for people who actully play games consistantly, not for a family get together in nintendo land.

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BestJinjo

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@thread-of-red So if you a 17 year old plays COD for X hours in a week vs. a 35 year old who plays Super Mario Bros and NintendoLand with his kids for X hours in that week, your console is more hardcore because of the types of games you play? I am sure Nintendo doesn't mind that the Wii was not a "real" console in your eyes either as they sold nearly 100 million of them and made a lot of $ while Sony is struggling to stay afloat after releasing a "real console". When you grow up and have kids, I want to see you buy them GTA 17 with hookers, prostitutes, and blood everywhere because you'll want them to play on a "real console".

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the_requiem

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@BestJinjo @thread-of-red I like your points about playing with family and all, but no. of sales are never a sign of quality, just accessibility or "cool" factor. I mean, Justin Bieber sells more albums than any rock band, does that make him the best artist? Better than hall of fame rockers? Or is Phantom Menace the best Star Wars movie coz it made most money? By this logic you'd say PS2 was best console of its gen but I believe that honor belongs to GC.

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ElFlechero

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Edited By ElFlechero

@BestJinjo @thread-of-red

I like what you said, family gaming is just as real and worth it. But the problem is the X hours of 17 year old playing and X hours of playing with kids isn't usually the same number, the 17 year old is generally going to be an audience that spends more money on games once they have a system instead of just sticking with wii sports and only playing occasionally.

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lingo56

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No point in porting it if you can't make it better.

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brxricano

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Pitchford: "The Wii U is perfect for FPS games!" http://www.gamespot.com/news/pitchford-wii-u-gamepad-is-best-nintendo-hardcore-controller-ever-6399261

Gamer: "OMG can you bring Borderla-"

Pitchford: "Dont- not that perf- here take this." *hands you Aliens: CM*

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PyroX4414

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The tech race will eventually catch up with Nintendo. We will see Mario for Xbox in our lifetime.

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Frunzo

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@PyroX4414 but sega stopped making money, Nintendo makes crap tons of cash off of wii, 3ds, ds sales and first party games. No chance you will see Mario on Xbox or Sony.

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Tzardok

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@PyroX4414 Sonic did already, it may take a while but I can see it happening. its possible.

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DiverseGamer

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Gearbox: "You won't get Borderlands 2, but you can have this."

Nintendo: "Oh, Aliens: Colonial Marines....thanks..."

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WeWerePirates

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A quick interface for telling jerk face randoms to go **** themselves perhaps?

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Matcam89

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I think once the wiiU has more games built for it as opposed to ports then that will be the true mark for the wiiu. Games like ZombiU which got terrible scores is actually really good, the controller makes the game a lot scarier and intense than what it would be with a normal controller. However i bought NBA2k13 for the wiiU and it is garbage compared to the other versions pretty much unplayable. I own all three consoles and a gaming pc i am not biased they all have their pros and cons. I think the wiiu will be fine.

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kidnatural

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@Matcam89 During my experiences with ZombiU, I thought it was a poor knock-off of Condemned: Criminal Origins.

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Lestat_jio

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Edited By Lestat_jio

So whats up with the new console wth full hd 1920x1080p, physics processor, multiple controler capability, multiple display capability (3 or more), 8xAA, 16xAF, tessalation, great internet navigation, netflix, full dvd, bluray support, itunes, multi compatibility with old nintendo, atari, etc, console and arcade games, ps1 and ps2 games, and of course, that custom case?

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BestJinjo

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@Lestat_jio You forgot 3 year warranty on most parts vs. 1 for consoles, and if something breaks later, ability to upgrade any component you want at any time in the next 10+ years. Winning.

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Kjranu

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@Lestat_jio They consolized my PC? No way!

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alrepairs

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@Lestat_jio yup,

Sounds like my high end PC to me ^^

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