The Borderlands series is currently facing a wave of negative reviews following changes made by publisher Take-Two Interactive to its End User License Agreement (EULA). Delve into the details to understand the community's response and what it could mean for the future of the franchise.
Borderlands Games Recent Reviews Are "Mixed" and "Mostly Negative"
Take-Two Terms of Service Changes
The Borderlands franchise has come under fire after fans discovered that Take-Two Interactive updated its EULA. This revelation, initially spotted by Reddit user Noob4Head on May 18, led to a significant number of negative reviews on Steam for Borderlands, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands 3.
According to the terms of service on Take-Two’s website, the last update occurred on February 28. The issue gained significant attention after being highlighted by various Reddit users and YouTubers, who criticized the new anti-cheat software as "spyware."
Some users have raised concerns that the updated EULA could grant Take-Two root-level access to their computers, potentially collecting sensitive personal information such as passwords and contact numbers. These allegations are based on speculation, as Take-Two has not yet issued an official statement in response to the backlash.
The inclusion of anti-cheat software is particularly contentious given the vibrant modding community that has been integral to the success of Borderlands. The impact of these changes on modding, privacy, and gameplay, and their relevance to the upcoming Borderlands 4, are still unclear.
Possibly An Overreaction?
While many fans view these changes as invasive, some have defended Take-Two, arguing that the updated EULA is not significantly different from earlier versions. Reddit user Librask remarked, "People are overreacting for sure. The EULA is hardly any different than the one before it all the way back in 2018." It's worth noting that Take-Two's terms of service are broad and not all provisions directly impact Borderlands.
The EULA explicitly states that Take-Two, as the product owner, reserves the right to update its terms, with users having the option to either accept these changes or cease using the service.
Root-level access for anti-cheat purposes is common in other multiplayer games such as League of Legends, Valorant, and Rainbow Six: Siege. However, since Borderlands primarily lacks a competitive PvP scene (outside of speedrunning), the inclusion of such software has puzzled fans. The necessity of this for the upcoming Borderlands 4 remains uncertain.
As the Borderlands series navigates this controversy, the community eagerly awaits Take-Two's response and potential adjustments to the EULA. Meanwhile, the company continues its preparations for the release of Borderlands 4, the next installment in the beloved looter-shooter franchise.
Borderlands 4 is slated to launch on September 12, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay tuned for further updates and insights by checking out our comprehensive article below!
