Key Takeaways
1. 2K Games is promoting the Borderlands series ahead of Borderlands 4 with a major sale on Steam, including free access to Borderlands 2.
2. The player count for Borderlands 2 surged from 2,000-3,000 to over 17,000 after the announcement of it being free.
3. Borderlands 3, while on sale for $2.99, did not see a significant increase in player numbers, possibly due to its previous free offering on the Epic Games Store.
4. The Steam sale features notable discounts on several Borderlands games, with Borderlands 2 being free and other titles heavily discounted.
5. The franchise is facing backlash over changes to its End User License Agreement (EULA), leading to a campaign of review bombing by some players.
With Borderlands 4 on the way, 2K Games has decided to bring everyone up to speed on the series’ storyline. They have launched a major sale on the Borderlands games available on Steam. During this sale, players can claim Borderlands 2 for free, while Borderlands 3 is significantly marked down to just $2.99, reduced from $59.99. Even though Borderlands 2 was released almost 13 years ago in 2012, it still attracts a consistent player base of about 2,000 to 3,000 players each day. However, after announcing the free game, SteamDB reports that the active player count for Borderlands 2 surged to over 17,000 within just a day. Currently, it seems that the player count for Borderlands 2 is still rising, suggesting more players will join in over the weekend, taking advantage of the chance to play this classic looter shooter for the first time.
A Less Impactful Sale for Borderlands 3
In contrast, Borderlands 3, which is also on sale but not free, doesn’t seem to have experienced as much of a spike in player numbers. One possible reason could be that Borderlands 3 was previously offered for free on the Epic Games Store, which might have satisfied many gamers’ curiosity already.
Pricing Details for the Sale
The ongoing Steam sale for the Borderlands franchise has led to notable discounts on several games, as follows:
– Borderlands GOTY Enhanced: $9.89 (67% off)
– Borderlands 2: Free
– Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel: $3.99 (90% off)
– Borderlands 3: $2.99 (95% off)
– Borderlands Collection: Pandora’s Box: $35.67
If you’ve been away from the gaming scene, the Borderlands series basically set the benchmark for looter shooters when its first title dropped in 2009. It brought a distinctive art style, engaging characters, solid shooting mechanics, and a ton of loot to the table. Borderlands 2 took everything up a notch with better shooting and loot systems, along with the franchise’s most famous villain—also a standout in the entire genre. While many fans agree that Borderlands 3 improved on many aspects, there is a strong sentiment that Borderlands 2 remains the gold standard for storytelling within the series.
Controversy Surrounding EULA Changes
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the Borderlands franchise has faced some backlash recently due to a change in the game’s End User License Agreement (EULA), which some players view as invasive and greedy. This change has sparked a campaign of review bombing as a form of protest.
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