Gearbox Cornered: Players Decry '$130 Super Deluxe' Loot Box Scheme After Quality Plummets

Post date: March 28, 2026 · Discovered: April 17, 2026 · 3 posts, 50 comments

Gearbox’s current DLC monetization structure draws immediate ire, with specific calls targeting the $130 Super Deluxe Edition pricing model. The general policy of gating content behind expensive add-ons pushes players toward waiting for massive sales to feel financially viable.

Opinions fracture over franchise quality. Many users, like 'Assassassin', claim gameplay peaked at Borderlands 2. Conversely, others recall the strong initial 'tone' of the first title. The revenue structure itself is labeled predatory; 'givesomefucks' argues the pricing cycle forces exploitation. Furthermore, 'Skv' blasts the repetitive nature, while the insightful comparison from 'cerebralhawks' frames modern DLC against older titles like Oblivion's Shivering Isles.

The overwhelming sentiment targets Gearbox's profit model. The consensus is that the high cost of premium add-ons feels exploitative, creating a clear rift between the willingness to pay for new content and the perceived decline in core gameplay experience.

Key Points

OPPOSE

DLC pricing is excessive and predatory.

Users point to the '$130 Super Deluxe Edition' cost, feeling forced into waiting for deep sales to participate.

OPPOSE

Borderlands 2 represents the franchise's peak quality.

'Assassassin' argues the quality has steadily declined since BL2, which is seen as the high watermark for gameplay and characters.

OPPOSE

Repetitive gameplay mechanics detract from enjoyment.

'Skv' specifically criticizes the 'lame-ass pander line' repetition, stating it hurts the series' overall enjoyment.

MIXED

The focus should shift to supporting other indie devs.

'Katana314' argues the discussion fixation on Gearbox's failures distracts from praising other innovative developers.

SUPPORT

Core gameplay strength lies in procedural weapons.

'tal' suggests the procedural weapon generation remains a strong mechanic regardless of narrative weaknesses.

Source Discussions (3)

This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.

77
points
Borderlands 4′s New $30 Expansion Pack Isn’t Winning Over Fans
[email protected]·27 comments·3/28/2026·by simple·kotaku.com
67
points
Borderlands 4's New $30 Expansion Pack Isn't Winning Over Fans
[email protected]·15 comments·3/28/2026·by inclementimmigrant·kotaku.com
13
points
First thoughts on Borderlands 4?
[email protected]·8 comments·9/12/2025·by restingboredface