If you’re wondering why the Borderlands “pre-sequel” is heading to the PS3 and Xbox 360 instead of next-gen platforms, it’s because that’s where the demand is, according to Gearbox.
Speaking to Eurogamer at the game’s reveal event, the studio’s head honcho Randy Pitchford explained that it’s “not free to build” a game for either the PS4 or Xbox One, and that the team wanted to spend its resources and attention on the current Borderlands build by making the pre-sequel on the two older platforms.
“Currently there is – between PS3 and Xbox 360 – over 150 million installed units worldwide – probably 170 million is more realistic. There are fewer Xbox Ones and PS4s than we sold copies of Borderlands 2,” he said.
“If you try to image the set of Borderlands players who have already upgraded, that’s not 100%, but if you try to image the set of Xbox One or PS4 owners who do not have an Xbox 360 or a PS3, the difference there is so close to nil you can’t make a business rationalization around that.
“I don’t think I would have to stretch far to suggest there’s probably a lot of demand for more Borderlands. That demand lives on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. We don’t know to what extent it’ll live on the next-gen. I imagine over time – maybe by the time we get to the third or fourth Christmas – there will be enough of an install base.
“Borderlands 2 did so well there’s obvious demand there, and we have not been able to serve it sufficiently with just DLCs. We’ve consumed all the memory there is to consume to add more content to Borderlands 2.”
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel takes place during the events between the first two games and is being developed by 2K Australia rather than directly at Gearbox.
You can watch the official trailer here.
