Randy Pitchford says gaming hasn’t had its Citizen Kane yet
Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford said the video game industry has not yet produced a masterpiece comparable to Citizen Kane, the 1941 film widely regarded as cinema’s first landmark achievement. He made the remarks in a 73-minute interview with Shacknews about Borderlands 4, which launched on Friday, Sept. 12.
Pitchford explained that creating major titles requires hundreds of employees working for years at costs exceeding blockbuster film budgets. He said such projects demand shared belief among investors and development teams that the final product will justify the resources invested. The executive noted that the entire industry remains in the early stages of development, despite 54 years having passed since the first commercial game arrived in arcades.
Critics argue the medium has already delivered multiple defining works and evolved faster than cinema. Entertainment companies compete aggressively for rights to adapt gaming properties rather than the reverse.
