After being the subject of multiple controversies in recent weeks, the time for calm after the storm has finally arrived for Borderlands 4. Indeed, while the question of the game's price generated heated discussions between players and Randy Pitchford for nearly a month, all tensions finally vanished when its final price was revealed. For the CEO of Gearbox Software, the time has now come to turn the page and resume communication around the new features expected in this new opus.
Gearbox explains the absence of a mini-map in Borderlands 4…
In a long thread published on X, the creator has indeed looked more in depth at the question of the mini-map within Borderlands 4 which, as he points out, will offer the largest game area in the franchise to date. "There are main missions and side quests (many of them) that often have objectives, sometimes multiple objectives, that go beyond the scope of a useful minimap," Pitchford explains. "Also, the game offers a lot more verticality than before.".
"That's why the minimap becomes problematic," he confides. "If you've ever tried to use Google Maps to walk around Tokyo, you know how confusing and senseless it can be." Not to mention that, as he goes on to point out, including a minimap in a game like Borderlands 4 has costs. First, it takes the teams' time. "It's not just about making a small version of the big map," he explains. "It's an entirely new system that requires development time that could be spent on other features and content.".
Secondly, it takes up screen space, which inevitably impacts the player's vision. And finally, most importantly, it requires a "considerable" amount of memory space. "For a game like [Borderlands 4], it's not worth the effort," Pitchford asserts. That's why Gearbox instead decided to invest more in creating the large map, which they accompanied with a compass and a drone companion to help the player navigate the world.
…before revealing the presence of a combat radar
The problem, as Pitchford points out, is that the lack of a mini-map has still been the subject of some criticism. After presenting Borderlands 4 to various journalists and content creators around the world, several of them felt that its absence slightly hindered combat, as it was then impossible to clearly identify the number of enemies and their position. "They argued in favor of a combat radar," recalls the studio boss.
And while the subject began to be the subject of numerous discussions on social networks, the idea gradually began to mature at Gearbox... which finally decided to take action. "A few developers got together and found time outside their schedules," reveals Pitchford. As a result, the players finally got their way, and a combat radar will indeed be present in Borderlands 4 as an option for those who want it. All's well that ends well, then.
"This happened thanks to the best people in our community. I'm talking about the real fans who genuinely want the best for the game and who have given constructive feedback and reasonable arguments. You know who you are, and you're awesome. It's thanks to you that this happened!" Pitchford concluded, before reminding everyone that Borderlands 4 will be officially available on September 12th.
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