The Borderlands series is experiencing a wave of negative reviews after Take-Two Interactive modified its End User License Agreement. Discover how players are reacting and what this means for the franchise's future.
Borderlands Games Recent Reviews Are "Mixed" and "Mostly Negative"
Take-Two Terms of Service Changes
The Borderlands series has become the target of review bombing following revelations about Take-Two Interactive's updated End User License Agreement. As first noticed by Reddit user Noob4Head on May 18th, Steam reviews for Borderlands, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands 3 have turned overwhelmingly negative in response to these changes.
Take-Two's terms of service, last updated February 28th, has drawn significant criticism after being spotlighted by various Reddit users and YouTubers. Many are labeling the newly introduced anti-cheat provisions as invasive "spyware." Players allege the updated EULA grants the company deep system access under the guise of cheat prevention, potentially enabling collection of personal data including passwords and contact information. These claims remain unconfirmed as Take-Two hasn't formally addressed the matter.
The anti-cheat implementation raises questions about its necessity, particularly given Borderlands' thriving modding community which has contributed significantly to the franchise's success. While the full impact of these EULA changes on player privacy or gameplay remains uncertain, their timing suggests possible preparation for Borderlands 4's upcoming release.
Potentially Excessive Backlash?
While many players view the changes as intrusive, others defend Take-Two's position. Reddit user Librask noted, "Players are definitely overreacting. This EULA barely differs from the 2018 version." It's worth noting that the terms of service is a comprehensive document, and not all provisions necessarily apply specifically to Borderlands.
The agreement clearly states Take-Two's rights as content owners to update their policies, while preserving users' ability to discontinue service if they disagree. Root-level access isn't unprecedented in multiplayer gaming - major competitive titles like League of Legends and Valorant employ similar measures against hackers. However, since Borderlands lacks substantial PVP elements (beyond activities like speedrunning), the anti-cheat inclusions seem disproportionate to many fans.
As the controversy unfolds, all eyes remain on Take-Two's potential response. The publisher continues preparations for the looter-shooter's fourth main installment despite the ongoing community unrest.
Borderlands 4 is scheduled for release September 12, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. For continuous updates on the game's development, stay tuned to our ongoing coverage.
