The beloved Borderlands series has recently faced a wave of negative reviews following changes made by publisher Take-Two Interactive to its End User License Agreement (EULA). This article delves into the community's reaction and what these developments 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, including titles like Borderlands, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands 3, has been hit with a surge of negative reviews on Steam. This backlash began after fans discovered alterations to Take-Two Interactive's EULA. As reported by Reddit user Noob4Head on May 18, the changes have led to a significant number of negative ratings on these games.
Take-Two updated their terms of service on February 28, but the issue only gained widespread attention recently. The controversy centers around the inclusion of anti-cheat software, which some users are calling "spyware."
Concerns have been raised about the EULA granting Take-Two root-level access to users' machines, potentially allowing the collection of personal data like passwords and contact numbers. These claims, however, remain unverified as Take-Two has not yet issued an official response to the community's concerns.
The implementation of anti-cheat software is particularly contentious given Borderlands' thriving modding community, which has been a significant part of the series' appeal. The impact of these changes on modding and overall gameplay, as well as their necessity in anticipation of Borderlands 4, is still unclear.
Possibly An Overreaction?
While many fans view these EULA changes as invasive and negative, some argue that the reaction might be exaggerated. Reddit user Librask, for instance, stated, "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 apply broadly and not all changes will necessarily impact Borderlands directly.
The EULA explicitly mentions that Take-Two, as the product owner, reserves the right to update the agreement, and users can choose to either accept these terms or discontinue using their services. Root-level access, while controversial, is not uncommon in multiplayer games like League of Legends, Valorant, and Rainbow Six: Siege, where it helps combat cheating. However, given Borderlands' limited focus on competitive PvP, the inclusion of such software has puzzled many fans.
As the Borderlands community continues to voice its concerns, it remains to be seen how Take-Two will address the situation and whether they will reconsider their EULA changes. Meanwhile, the company is preparing for the launch of Borderlands 4, set to release on September 12, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Stay updated with the latest on the game by checking our dedicated article below!
