Borderlands 3 Exec Defends Epic Exclusivity After Steam Review Bombing

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Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford says Borderlands Steam review bombing is helping to affirm his opinion on Borderlands 3 Epic Games Store exclusivity.

It’s no secret that developers aren’t a fan of review bombing — and Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford can be added to that list. Following a wide-spread review bomb of Borderlands games on digital marketplace Steam, Pitchford is using it as a basis to defend Borderlands 3 moving exclusively to competitor Epic Games Store. Even if his claims make no sense.

If you are even remotely following the gaming scene, you have heard of Epic Games’ active charge on the status quo, obtaining exclusivity rights for both new and old games alike on their platform Epic Games Store. While developers and publishers are over the moon about competition and better fee deals, gamers are not nearly as pleased — often complaining about anti-competitive practices, a lack of features, and security flaws on Epic Game Store.

And while Borderlands 3 is one of the most anticipated games of the generation, a wave of negativity spread among the PC fanbase when it was revealed the game would be a six-month Epic Game Store exclusive. As with games like Metro Exodus, a lot of these gamers let their opinion be heard by leaving negative reviews on prior Borderlands games on Steam:

With a litany of these reviews pouring in, Pitchford has taken to Twitter to express his disapproval for this practice:

Ironically, that this misuse is possible and that Steam has no interest in correcting this misuse makes me kind of happy about 2k’s decision and makes me want to reconsider Gearbox Publishing’s current posture on the platform.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) April 5, 2019

“I wouldn’t hit you if you didn’t deserve it. It’s your fault I am hitting you.” WTF is wrong with you and this victim blaming bullshit. Kindly fuck off, troll.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) April 5, 2019

Though weirdly, embedded in his disapproval are some odd claims: “Steam has no interest in correcting this misuse” of review bombing, which both emboldens his opinion on publisher 2K Games decision to shift to Epic Games Store and may even impact developer Gearbox’s Steam strategy moving forward.

But this… simply isn’t true. Well, at least the first part. Steam has been making active moves to mitigate review bombing of “off-topic” reviews. As mentioned in our previous reporting, it appears that Borderlands games are the first to benefit from Steam’s newly revamped review system that systematically filters out date ranges where review bombs are a concern:

Borderlands 2 is the first game on Steam to make use of the "off-topic reviews" marking. Over 4000 reviews are excluded from the rating calculation. pic.twitter.com/kUMN0Lqdx3
— Steam Database (@SteamDB) April 6, 2019

Posted: Apr 07, 2019 9:51 am
Related Forum: PC Gaming Forum

Source: https://www.dualshockers.com/borderlands-3-steam-review-epic-pitchford/

Comments

322Posted: Mon. Apr 08, 2019

So stupid. Yea it can't be done on Epic store which is because, there are No user reviews, no community forums, no support, no real store browser. Its the most bare bones PC store front that exists. And, steam announced last year they were fixing review bombings.

The only reason its on Epic store is because epic is giving them bags of money to try and corner the PC market. Really hope people don't use Epic. They have 0 security for accounts and all your data is owned by one of the largest Chinese conglomerates to exist. China put back doors in their manufactured hardware, can't tell me they don't have direct access to Epics data, regardless of what Sweeney says.

AnimePosted: Sun. Apr 07, 2019

I always prefer steam always.

k3rryPosted: Sun. Apr 07, 2019

Dang, most likely not gonna buy it on epic store because I never use it anymore. Gonna be a great game hopefully but will have to wait a bit longer than expected. Great post!!