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![[EXCLUSIVE] Borderlands 4 Interview – Randy Pitchford on C4SH, Design Lessons, and the Future of the Vault](https://cdn.gamerbraves.com/2025/09/Borderlands4Interview_Interview_FI.jpg)
At Tokyo Game Show 2025, Borderlands 4 wasn’t there to make its debut — it was there to prove its staying power. With the game already out in the wild and enjoying strong player engagement, Gearbox used the stage to spotlight what’s next. The highlight came during our sit-down with Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford, who, between sharing design insights, community philosophy, and even pulling off a few card tricks mid-conversation, introduced C4SH — the newest Vault Hunter joining the roster. Pitchford also reflected on the six-year journey that shaped what he believes may be the best Borderlands yet.
Meet C4SH, the Robodealer
For the first time since Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Gearbox is adding new playable characters post-launch. Leading the charge is C4SH, a robotic casino dealer whose mind is hardwired for probability, luck, and games of chance.
“The brain of this robot is programmed to think about probabilities and chance,” Pitchford explained. “That’s a deep part of the gameplay. Some outcomes of C4SH’s skills are randomized, like the roll of dice or the flip of a card. Sometimes you’ll hit big and feel incredibly powerful, other times you’ll whiff — but that’s the fun of it.”
True to his magician roots, Pitchford even pulled out a deck of cards during our conversation, demonstrating sleight-of-hand techniques that inspired the character’s animations. Players will see card tricks and throws in first-person view, blending magic with mayhem.
“By adding a new character, it’s almost like you get an entirely new Borderlands 4 to play over again,” Pitchford said. “Replayability is what makes Borderlands work, and C4SH adds another angle to that.”
Building the Best Borderlands Yet
After years of experimentation across sequels and spin-offs, Gearbox feels it has cracked the formula for what makes Borderlands shine. Pitchford acknowledged that while past games pushed boundaries in different directions, the lessons learned helped fine-tune the studio’s approach.
“We’ve made a bunch of Borderlands games now, and we’ve tried a bunch of different things. That gave us an advantage in making Borderlands 4 the best in the series,” he noted.
Early data seems to support that claim. According to Pitchford, Borderlands 4 is enjoying the highest engagement rate the franchise has ever seen, with more players returning for second, third, and even longer sessions than before.
“That’s the biggest evidence we have that we succeeded,” he added. “It’s so gratifying to see people loving it and wanting to spend more time with it.”
Balancing Chaos with Buffs, Not Nerfs
One standout aspect of Gearbox’s post-launch strategy is its player-friendly balancing approach. Rather than nerfing popular gear or abilities, the studio is choosing to buff underused options — preserving the thrill of feeling overpowered while encouraging experimentation.
“We want players to become gods and feel like gods,” Pitchford emphasized. “It’s not cool to just knock them down. Instead of weakening strong builds, we make the weaker ones stronger. That way, players still get that godlike experience but are encouraged to try new things.”
This philosophy extends to enemies too. Gearbox has the option to tweak specific bosses rather than the entire game, creating targeted challenges that add variety without undercutting the broader power fantasy.
The Shifting Popularity of Vault Hunters
When asked which Vault Hunter is leading the popularity race, Pitchford revealed that Vex, the new Siren, is currently the fan favorite. However, Rafa — once the least-picked character — is on the rise thanks to community campaigns and cosmetic rewards designed to encourage variety.
“Preferences shift as players spend more time in the game,” Pitchford said. “What starts as an identity-driven choice often evolves into a gameplay-driven one. Each Vault Hunter plays so differently, it’s like a whole new game each time.”
Expanding the Borderlands Universe
With comics, spin-offs, a movie, and even a cookbook, the Borderlands brand has grown far beyond its looter-shooter roots. Pitchford welcomed these expansions with open arms, crediting them with keeping the universe alive in unexpected ways.
“I’d rather live in a world where more things can exist than less,” he said. “Whether it’s a collaboration with a musician like Zayn Malik or a movie with Lionsgate, every project gives fans another way to connect with the universe.”
Six Years in the Making
Perhaps the most striking revelation came when Pitchford reflected on just how much of his career has gone into making Borderlands 4.
“We’ve been working on this for six years,” he said. “That’s 20% of my entire career invested in one video game. It’s humbling. We wanted to do right by longtime fans, but also make something new players could jump into with no prior knowledge. I think we succeeded at that.”
For Pitchford, the ultimate reward is seeing players new and old dive into Kairos’ chaos, guns blazing, and finding joy in the mayhem.
“We only exist for the players,” he concluded. “To create joy, happiness, and surprise. Thank you for giving us the chance to do that.”
You can read our full article on what we thought about Borderlands 4 here.
