Borderlands 3 has experienced a significant surge in player numbers, coinciding with the release of the much-discussed movie adaptation. Despite being released nearly five years ago, the looter-shooter continues to maintain a strong community on Steam, and recent events have only bolstered its player base.

The Borderlands franchise has found itself in the spotlight recently, albeit not entirely for positive reasons. The release of the Borderlands movie has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews, currently holding a dismal 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For many non-gamers, this film might be their first introduction to the Borderlands universe, though it may not leave the best impression. However, the controversy surrounding the movie seems to have had an unexpected side effect: a resurgence in interest for Borderlands 3.

Steam Player Count Spikes Following Movie Release

According to data from SteamDB, Borderlands 3 has seen a dramatic increase in players over the past few days, directly aligning with the movie’s release. Before the film’s debut, the game was averaging between 2,000 to 4,000 players daily. However, this number has steadily grown, peaking at 12,379 players in the last 24 hours. While this increase won’t propel Borderlands 3 to the top of Steam’s most-played games, it’s still a notable uptick for a game released in 2019.

The timing suggests that the movie’s release, despite its critical failure, has brought the Borderlands name back into the public consciousness. It’s possible that this renewed attention has prompted fans to revisit the game or introduced new players to the series. Additionally, the fact that Borderlands 3 is currently available for 90% off on Steam, bringing the price down to just $5.99, has undoubtedly contributed to the surge. The entire Borderlands franchise, excluding Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, is also on sale as part of the Borderlands Collection: Pandora’s Box at a 94% discount.

Looking Beyond the Movie: What’s Next for Borderlands?

Given the movie’s poor box office performance, the Borderlands franchise will likely want to distance itself from this chapter as quickly as possible. In light of the film’s reception, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has teased the development of Borderlands 4, a move that will surely excite fans of the series who were disappointed by the movie adaptation. The confirmation of a new mainline release is welcome news, offering fans something to anticipate and reminding them why they fell in love with the franchise in the first place.

In the end, while the Borderlands movie might not have lived up to expectations, it has inadvertently rekindled interest in the game that started it all. As Borderlands 3 continues to see a boost in activity, fans can look forward to the next chapter in the series, hopefully with better results.

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