Gearbox Software has issued an official response addressing concerns about recent updates to parent company Take-Two's Terms of Service and allegations of "spyware" in Borderlands games.
Published directly on Steam where fans have review-bombed major Borderlands titles, the statement seeks to clarify these issues while "maintaining transparency and trust with our community." The response specifically tackles two major concerns: privacy issues related to data collection and restrictions on game modifications.
Gearbox immediately dispels the spyware accusations: "Take-Two does not use spyware in its games." While acknowledging data collection occurs, the studio assures players their private information remains protected.
"Take-Two clearly outlines these practices in its Privacy Policy for player transparency and legal compliance," Gearbox explains. "The collected data helps deliver better services, including protecting game integrity and improving player experiences. Further details are available in the Privacy Policy."
The statement continues: "Basic identifiers are collected to ensure game compatibility across different platforms and media types. This helps us understand player behavior and personalize experiences (like displaying usernames). Account credentials are only collected when players voluntarily create accounts with Take-Two or its subsidiaries."
It remains uncertain whether Gearbox's clarification will satisfy players who protested after February's TOS update. Regarding modding restrictions, Gearbox provides straightforward reasoning:
"Take-Two prohibits mods that create unfair advantages, negatively impact others' gameplay, or grant unauthorized content access," the statement reads. "These measures protect the intended experience for all players."
This directly addresses fears of a complete modding ban, clarifying that Take-Two primarily targets cheating mods that could ruin multiplayer experiences. Gearbox emphasizes that "single-player, non-commercial mods that respect intellectual property rights generally won't face action."
AnswerView ResultsThe controversy began in May when players noticed Take-Two's updated terms affecting multiple titles. Rumors of excessive data collection spread rapidly, leading to "Mostly Negative" and "Overwhelmingly Negative" recent review scores for Borderlands 1, 2, and 3. While tensions briefly eased in late May, concerns resurfaced when Borderlands 2 became temporarily free to own on June 5.Currently, the Borderlands series maintains poor recent review scores on Steam. Meanwhile, Gearbox continues development on Borderlands 4 for its planned September launch. Fans can stay updated by checking coverage from April 2025's State of Play presentation, which revealed new gameplay details.
