Gearbox Software program has printed a press release concerning the controversy surrounding modifications to guardian firm Take-Two’s Phrases of Service and fears that many Borderlands video games now include “spy ware.”
Printed immediately on Steam, the place outcry has materialized within the type of review-bombing campaigns for all main Borderlands titles, the assertion’s intention is to handle considerations whereas “sustaining transparency and confidence with the group.” Meaning tackling two key speaking factors which have taken over the Borderlands fanbase for months, together with fears of spy ware and modding crackdowns.
Gearbox makes its stance clear from the get-go: “Take-Two doesn’t use spy ware in its video games.” Whereas there are situations information will likely be collected, Gearbox doesn’t need gamers to worry that their non-public data is at all times up for grabs.
“Take-Two identifies these practices in its Privateness Coverage to offer transparency to gamers and adjust to its authorized obligations,” Gearbox’s Steam assertion says. “Take-Two collects this data to ship its providers to gamers, together with to guard the sport surroundings and participant expertise. You may learn extra about this within the Privateness Coverage.”
The assertion continues: “For instance, participant and machine identifiers are collected partly to make sure the sport is appropriate with every participant’s media, platform or web site browser sort. It permits us to higher perceive how gamers play video games, and to personalize the consumer expertise (like having usernames present up!). Account credentials are collected from customers who select to create accounts with Take-Two and its labels.”
It’s unclear if Gearbox’s rationalization of Take-Two’s Phrases of Service will likely be sufficient to calm those that took up arms after the settlement was altered again in February. In the meantime, the studio’s rationalization for its stance on the modding scene is pretty easy.
“Take-Two’s Phrases of Service prohibit mods that permit customers to realize an unfair benefit, negatively influence the power of different customers to benefit from the recreation as supposed, or permit customers to realize entry to content material that the consumer is just not entitled to,” the assertion clarifies. “We do that to guard the integrity of the sport expertise for all customers.”
It is a direct response to fears that the modding group may face repercussions for any form of modding exercise, as Gearbox says Take-Two’s major concern lies with cheaters who may dampen the expertise for different gamers. The assertion goes so far as to say Gearbox’s guardian firm “typically doesn’t search to take motion towards mods which might be single-player solely, non-commercial, and respect the mental property (IP) rights of its labels and third events.”
Uproar started round Might of this yr when followers caught wind that Take-Two had up to date its phrases of service, affecting a lot of its current titles. Rumor that the corporate was preying on consumer information shortly caught hearth, leading to a motion that noticed the Current Critiques sections for Borderlands 1, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands 3 tank into the “Largely Unfavourable” and “Overwhelmingly Unfavourable” zones. Whereas considerations subsided for the again half of Might, fears kicked up as soon as once more when Borderlands 2 was made free to maintain (for a restricted time) on June 5.
For now, the Borderlands sequence’ Current Critiques on Steam stay firmly within the pink. In the meantime, Gearbox is working to ship Borderlands 4 this September. You may take a look at the newest information in addition to a little bit of gameplay by studying up on every little thing introduced at its April 2025 State of Play presentation.
Michael Cripe is a contract contributor with IGN. He is greatest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. You’ll want to give him a comply with on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
