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Gearbox wants Borderlands 2 on PS Vita

CEO Randy Pitchford excited about potential for cross-platform play in new shooter, willing to allow outside studio to build portable version.

145 Comments

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford is eager for an outside company to create a PlayStation Vita version of the upcoming shooter Borderlands 2. Speaking at PC and indie game event Rezzed today (attended by Eurogamer), Pitchford explained that he is excited over the potential for cross-platform play with the PlayStation 3 version.

Pitchford has made a pitch for Borderlands 2 on the PS Vita.
Pitchford has made a pitch for Borderlands 2 on the PS Vita.

"One of the things I wish Sony would do is get behind Borderlands, because I'd love to see a Vita version of the game," he said. "I want to be able to have the character I'm working on with my PS3, and then when I'm on the road with my Vita I can just keep developing that same character because it exists on the cloud somewhere."

Pitchford explained that Gearbox itself is too busy to create Borderlands 2 for the PS Vita, but he said the company is willing to have an outside studio work on it.

"I know there are a lot of talented developers who could take our code, our source, and our content and perhaps create something like that," he said. "That would be exciting to me."

Borderlands 2 is the sequel to 2009's lauded loot-driven shooter. It is due out for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on September 18 in North America, with an international release following on September 21.

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Avatar image for Cozm1kaos
Cozm1kaos

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To busy to port B2? really? thats like saying I am to busy to go to work and make some extra cash. Come on gearbox, it wont take much time for you to port it over. Just do it your self!!!!!! make more $$$$

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JHMninja89

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Edited By JHMninja89

hopefully they dont hand this job up to nihilistic. they should hand the job to SCE Studios but if they cant... I dont mind waiting another year for gearbox to make it themselves

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Toysoldier34

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If you could carry over the same character between PS3 and Vita that would be nice.

Also if they made it so you only need to buy one copy or at least a bundle that gets you a copy for both cheaper it could do very well. Not many people would shell out for two copies of the game full price.

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BouncingPenguin

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If this titles comes to the ps vita its gonna be epic. Playing boderlands 2 anywhere would be amazing!!

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interrasteral7

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Gearbox Software, please develop Borderlands for the Playstation Vita. I beg of you, because Sony has a lack of Playstation Vita games.

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duron2

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That would actually be pretty cool!

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vicsrealms

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Already pre-ordered the PC version on amazon. I still see little reason to get a Vita, but as bad as consoles are with FPS games. I don't want to think about how frustrating this game would be on a hand held.

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LeMeAtOm

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@vicsrealms omg im suprised people like you still exist, your argument is so old you're a relic. FPS games are not bad on consoles, they're just delivered differently and the work well for the big screen, comfort gamer who doesnt have the time or money to invest in a proper rig scrutinising their fps performance and etching their name in lihts due to their performance ability (I know, ive been on both sides of the fence)

some people are happy to play on a level playing field, (almosy) hack free, with the same hardware as everyone else, in comfort on their sofa or beanbag, where ever, and just having fun.

The whole argument from a PC gamers perspective is one of control, PC gamers hate game pads, simple. But it's like anything, it take a period of adjustment and you can get into the use of a pad just as well and as comfortably as you are after you're first initial "wtf this is tricky" moment when you first used a mouse and keyboard.

their are millions of very happy FPS gamers on console now, dare i say more than PC nowadays as they are more easily accessible. I pretty much gave up on PC gaming a long time ago, not because i dont like it, i love the conrol, but the fact i have to outlay so much to keep up with the technology, and the fact a lot of my friends will be on console, it was a peer pressure no brainer.

sorry if this seems excessive, but your statement seems naive to me and misleading at best.

end of rant

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vicsrealms

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@LeMeAtOm How was my statement misleading or naive? All, I said was I thought console FPS games were frustrating on consoles and I didn't even want to imagine trying to play Borderlands 2 on a dinky little Vita. This is coming from a guy who has been playing on the console since the days of the NES. I have plenty of experience with console FPS games, I just don't like them.

I prefer the control of a mouse and keyboard over that silly gamepad. Its frustrating how inaccurate it is in a FPS setting where I need the accuracy. Maybe your talking about multi-player, which I rarely play. I prefer single player or co-op, which the Borderlands series is an absolute hoot with four of my friends. Yes, most of my friends are PC gamers. Shoot, we even bring out laptops when we go play 2nd Edition AD&D (notice I didn't say 4.723 edition or whatever the hell it is this week) during the weekend.

I didn't ask you to analyse my opinion, and blow it all out of proportion. There was no need, as it wasn't stated in such away as to declare me a member of the "PC Master Race." Sure, I prefer the PC over the current generation of consoles. Sure, I spend a hell of a lot more time on my SNES or Genesis then on my dust gathering PS3.

If people can manage to play Borderlands on that little thing, then good for them! The more support for 2K and Gearbox the better as far as I concerned. Maybe after they put out another four enjoyable expansions for Borderlands 2, maybe we can expect Borderlands 3.

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LeMeAtOm

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Edited By LeMeAtOm

@Cozm1kaos @LeMeAtOm @vicsrealms 20 mins isn't a lot of time really, not everyone has to type with two fingers ;)

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Cozm1kaos

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Edited By Cozm1kaos

@LeMeAtOm @vicsrealms Wow you guys do have allot of time on your hands. I feel bad for both your keyboards!!!!

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LeMeAtOm

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@vicsrealms "All, I said was I thought console FPS games were frustrating on consoles" no you clearly said "as bad as consoles are with FPS games" which means something else, to state that FPS games are frustrating on consoles is one thing but you stated that consoles are bad at FPS games, which is the age old echo of PC stalwarts who dont like using game pads, you then said "I prefer the control of a mouse and keyboard over that silly gamepad. Its frustrating how inaccurate it is in a FPS setting where I need the accuracy" which kinda confirms what i said, its a control issue and nothing to do with how well a console handles FPS games. I think the dreamcast had a shine here in the console dommain as it was the only console i know of that included mouse and keyboard peripherals and that made playing unreal tournament and quake online with it a real blast, especially when you were pwning all the pad players and being called a hack every 5 minutes because you owned the room with better control.

Like i said though, im sorry if my reply was excessive as your statement wasn't clearly what you intended to say and i'm not directly digging at you, the misinterpreted statement you wrote just hit a chord with me that i wanted to address. The age old argument from anyone that a console cannot do FPS titles as good as the PC is just rubbish in my view, the experience and competition is equal although tailored slightly differently. It is a different skill that is necessary to play on a console as the allowance is made to compensate for being less accurate so the respect will always be there for PC gamers at the top of their game, but this also is balanced when you compare that issues such as system response, monitor refresh, frames per second differences between PC users who have better specked hardware also help to gain advantages which the level systems across the consoles do not suffer from, not to mention the games are more open to aim bots and assists this makes the experience a lot more frustrating as well, so consoles have benefits over these systems.

I also don't need to be given permission to have an opinion in response to what you say though.

perhaps it was a little too excessive, i'll apologize one last time and move on, but you can see where i'm coming from i hope at least, you definitely said it was the consoles that cant do FPS games, not that you have comfort issues with playing console games as a preference which is what you meant.

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nonfanboygamer1

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one of the problems of the vita is "outside studios" doing AAA titles

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SicklySunStorm

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I would buy both the Vita and PS3 version of this in a second if it supported that.

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itchyflop

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hell yeah !!! or even carry on playing on the vita !!

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tigertaru

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Now if this would happen, I would definitely want to invest in a Vita. Borderlands is epic!

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rangegear

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I approve this message. Even though i dont own a Vita i think just watching someone play Borderlands 2 on theirs would be cool.

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noah10

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That would be cool if every game for the ps3 could cross-platform play with the vita

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QOSMSTR

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That would be brilliant, so its probably not going to happen.

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THEgodDELUSION1

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i dont know about a Vita version, but the PS3 version is looking really good. Like

'ten times better than the original' good. I am very excited to get my hands on this game.

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BasilVZero

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I hope so, I hope they do a PSN release for a vita version of the first game *_*

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DarkSaber2k

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Why would anyone at a PC event give 2 shits about the Vita OR the possibility of PS3 users playing with Vita users?

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adam1808

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@DarkSaber2k Because they're not close-minded enough to be pissed when people talk about other platforms for decent games perhaps?

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ztg360

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@adam1808 have you ever listened to a pc gamer? there is a reason we sarcastically call them the "master" race

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DarkSaber2k

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@adam1808 lol that's funny. You're funny.

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narutotrainer

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I just created a petition to bring Borderlands 2 to the Ps Vita! Please Sign and share http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/borderlandsvita/

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Johny_47

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Borderlands isn't my kind of game, I played through the first game with a friend and two random people but I got bored before the end being honest but I know it's a good game especially for co-op, one of the few these days so having the 2nd game on more platforms is a good thing in my opinion.

Just a shame I don't like it, just isn't for me =/

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Mkeegs79

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This is old news. He said this months ago.

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Thirdrail1

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Ok, fellow Vita people. We need to get out there and make this happen. Tweet @Sony, or message them on Facebook. Write an email or even a letter if you have to! Let's throw some real support behind this great idea from Gearbox. Sony owes us after that E3 disaster. We need to make ourselves heard!

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Mr_Clark

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Awesome... That is the only word to describe how that would be. I would just love it if this were to happen.

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Codester_41

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I'd love to bring pandora on the go with me, not gonna lie. The first borderlands was one of my favourite games, I went back to it several times. If it's on the Vita, I'd get it, along with my ps3 version. I say, Go right ahead!

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thekiet258

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In other word, this interesting cloud-saving cannot use for saves on PC. Why do I have to play 2 characters, one on PS Vita and one on PC just because I do not have a PS3. Why don't Sony corporate with Steam or something like that to utilize such great feature for ported titles.

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azuresky101

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@thekiet258 I think that has more to do with the developer than sony-- its not like sony is stopping anyone from putting steamworks-- aka portal 2 --valve managed to put steam on ps3 and you could go back and forth with the pc version. Ultimately its gonna be the developer that determines whats used and whats not.-- as far as full steam use on ps os-- that itself might be out of the question-- first os memory usage blueprint is set- and secondly putting a competing platform on your system is bad for business.

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bakagami

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@thekiet258 This is just my opinion, but the reason I think that PC & console shooters never mix is that the PC gamers would have an unfair advantage with the keyboard & mouse. They don't want people noticing just how much better the controls are on the PC with a direct comparison. Again, IMO

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comb5

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@bakagami You can use keyboard and mouse with some PS3 games. I don't know how many people bother to do so or with what games.

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bakagami

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@squall_83 you don't need anything fancy like that. just use the USB ports. I keep a KB hooked up to my PS3 for typing messages but never try to use it for anything else. I didn't know about Timesplitters 2, great game

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squall_83

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@bakagami I remember boasting about how I could school all of my friends in TS2 if I used a mouse and keyboard, so I brought mine from home over to their house. I was sorely disappointed when I found out there was a HUGE lag in the mouse. It was almost like it was emulating analog. It didn't have the precise movements you would expect.

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squall_83

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@bakagami I know UT3 officially supports it. I remember Time Splitters 2 on PS2 also used it. They also sell conversion boxes that allow you to use keyboard and mouse on anything.

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bakagami

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@comb5 I don't know of any PS3 games that do. I only remember one game on the PS2 Star Trek Elite Force.

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adam1808

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Randy Pitchford is excited about everything

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Evz0rz

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@adam1808 And that's why he's so awesome! Yeah he's pretty crazy but we need more people in the industry that have an undying love for the products they create.

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adam1808

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@Evz0rz Certainly knows his spin. I'm pleased that with the Borderlands games he finally has something really awesome to get jazzed about.

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Trogeton

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WOW.. I didn't watch the video the first time, but WOW.. I SO can't wait for the game... I have borderlands platinum trophy, I can't wait to do again on this one

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bakagami

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@Trogeton oh yeah, day one purchase for my PC. can't frikkin' wait

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MrBlobz

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this would be great

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AmnesiaHaze

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so the BL2 saves will be hosted on server side (cloud) ? that would sure help to reduce the cheating that reuined part 1s online mode

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azuresky101

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I guess If Sony really wants it and want to use either a close tied developer or their own development team then my choice would be Ready at Dawn or Sony Bend-- as long as it isn't nihilistic or slant six ill be fine with--- both of those development studios ruin an amazing series with their crappy games, resistance: burning skies and socom confront respectively.

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bakagami

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@azuresky101 yeah, no more Nihilistic. Resistance: BS wasn't as bad as they say IMO, but it still wasn't a good game by any measure. Nihilistic is also doing a Killzone game for the Vita, I'm already prepared for the sadness.

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lolnation

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Awesome!

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MidNightStrikes

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If The Vita has the Complete package with Multi player and with other vitas and stuff Wow!

i dun mind if the graphics drop a little, But WTH no one is gonna complain!

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