Why is Borderlands 2 getting review bombed on Steam?

Borderlands 2 is available for free on Steam for a limited time, letting newcomers experience what's arguably one of the best looter-shooters in the history of gaming. Unfortunately, the game is also being review-bombed by fans for reasons not directly related to the game itself or it being a freebie.

Read on to know the cause for the review bombing of Borderlands 2 on Steam. Here are the details.

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Borderlands 2 EULA update dubbed "spyware," leads to review bombing on Steam

Things might not be what they might seem amidst all the outrage (Image via 2K)

Currently, the game's recent reviews are Overwhelmingly Negative, and this has caused its Overall Reviews to drop to a Very Positive status as well. Reading the recent negative reviews highlights the cause behind this controversy: Publisher 2K has updated the EULA (End User License Agreement) for Borderlands 2.

Fans were quick to point out the fact that this now allows the game to grab sensitive details such as your phone number, mobile ID, and more on top of anti-consumer clauses. Calling it "spyware," fans point out that 2K can ban users for:

• Using mods
• Using cheats/exploits
• Using VPN (Virtual Private Network) services

The timing for the free Borderlands 2 giveaway and the "spyware" drama might seem uncanny, but the ToS (Terms of Service) issue has been ongoing since February 2025, which is when it was updated. While it is unfair to have these agreements apply to a single-player co-op game that is well over a decade old, it seems like this new EULA is a blanket update across all 2K games.

So, while much of this is cause for concern at a glance, reading the EULA shows that much of what's there uses broad, generalized language that has also existed in the past. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has taken to X to soothe fan worries about potential "anti-cheat" software having kernel-level access to their PC by pointing out that no such thing exists in their games.

All things considered, it makes sense. Why would any publisher want to burn any and all earned goodwill with fans in the wake of upcoming major titles like Mafia: The Old Country and Borderlands 4?

Additionally, any potential shenanigans that fans are worried about would just get the company in legal hot waters, which no organization wants to deal with. So, fans just might be blowing things out of proportion this time around.