Gearbox Entertainment, the company behind the fan-favorite seriesBorderlands, confirms that it has been acquired by Take-Two Interactive/2K. While this is not necessarily surprising, as rumors have swirled aroundBorderlandsand Gearbox’s status within Embracer Groupfor some time, it does come in the middle of the night, almost literally, for many fans around the world.
The announcement was straightforward: an image posted on Gearbox socials. Founder Randy Pitchford shared as much, commenting that Take-Two Interactive and 2K will help take the company to the next level. Of course, what that means remains to be seen, but part of this announcement is the confirmation that the “next iteration” of theBorderlandsfranchise is in active development, per Take-Two’s release on the matter.
Take-Two/2K has released a statementon the matter, confirming the acquisition with an expected completion date by June 26, 2025. While the statement contains the standard jargon of such a business move, it also brings attention to the activedevelopment ofBorderlands 4. As 2K president David Ismailer said, “We are thrilled to welcome Randy Pitchford and his team of passionate, talented developers to 2K and we look forward to releasing numerous projects in the future as colleagues.We have loved partnering with Gearbox on every iteration of theBorderlandsfranchise and are excited to be in active development on the next installment in the series.” Although exact details will likely come to light in the coming days, it’s worth noting that this exchange between Take-Two and Embracer was made in the amount of 460 million USD.
Embracer, in this deal, retains certain IPs and companies, including Gearbox Publishing San Francisco, which shall be renamed. It also retains publishing rights to theRemnantfranchise,Hyper Light Breaker, and more. Further details, such as what was sold exactly and what was retained, are below viaMarket Screener.
With this deal, it’s worth noting that many such moves have been made by Embracer following its acquisition spree over the past few years. Gearbox is the latest in its ongoing reorganization, but it had previouslydivided purportedKOTOR Remakedeveloper Saber Interactive, issued several lay-offs, and reportedly canceled 30 projects within six months, including one for a newDeus Exgame.
Borderlands 3
WHERE TO PLAY
The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and an all-new mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four brand new Vault Hunters – the ultimate treasure-seeking badasses of the Borderlands, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization. Play solo or join with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy.A MAYHEM-FUELED THRILL RIDEStop the fanatical Calypso Twins from uniting the bandit clans and claiming the galaxy’s ultimate power. Only you, a thrill-seeking Vault Hunter, have the arsenal and allies to take them down.YOUR VAULT HUNTER, YOUR PLAYSTYLEBecome one of four extraordinary Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities, playstyles, deep skill trees, and tons of personalization options. All Vault Hunters are capable of awesome mayhem alone, but together they are unstoppable.LOCK, LOAD, AND LOOTWith bazillions of guns and gadgets, every fight is an opportunity to score new gear. Firearms with self-propelling bullet shields? Check. Rifles that spawn fire-spewing volcanoes? Obviously. Guns that grow legs and chase down enemies while hurling verbal insults? Yeah, got that too.NEW BORDERLANDSDiscover new worlds beyond Pandora, each featuring unique environments to explore and enemies to destroy. Tear through hostile deserts, battle your way across war-torn cityscapes, navigate deadly bayous, and more! QUICK & SEAMLESS CO-OP ACTIONPlay with anyone at any time online or in split-screen co-op, regardless of your level or mission progress. Take down enemies and challenges as a team, but reap rewards that are yours alone – no one misses out on loot.
