Randy Pitchford indicates Gearbox will not be showing Borderlands 3 at E3, while expressing concerns that fan expectations for the shooter sequel are getting out of hand. He took to Twitter, a less than ideal platform to express complicated thoughts, as he had to spread his post over six tweets. It does bear pointing out that he takes pains to phrase this in a hypothetical manner, and nowhere in the six tweets does he come out and directly say the game will not appear at E3 (which would take far fewer than 280 characters). There is a post on Shacknews that says "A representative from Gearbox Software announced to a room of journalists earlier today that there will be no Borderlands presence at E3 whatsoever," though they don't offer any quotes to prove that this was not also doublespeak. Here are the tweets all strung together:

Todd Robbins is an awesome performer who is a master of the side-show. He does stuff like hammer a nail into his face or eat a light bulb whole, which is real. He also does some magic, which is fake. I’m going somewhere with this...

He once said (paraphrased), “When I make something vanish (which is a magic trick, and fake), people will swear that it is real. But when I eat a light bulb (which is not magic, and is real) people will swear that it is fake - a trick.”

The point is that it is kind of a part of our species that we tend to hold on to what we *want* to believe while discounting the truth if it contradicts that - no matter the evidence. It takes a disciplined mind to see reality for what it is.

For example, I could write it out now precisely and specifically that “Borderlands 3” will not be at E3 and many of you will choose not to believe it. Many of you will find a way to interpret the intent to suit what you want to believe regardless of what is true.

In fact, this aspect of human nature is so powerful that it is more likely this thread will increase the volume of the debate rather than diminish it. It feels as if “Borderlands 3” may be destined to be the next Half-Life 3 in that regard.

I *love* how important Borderlands is to so many of you. The developers of Gearbox Software are working harder than we have ever worked in order to create new and exciting things in hopes of entertaining you. Your passion fuels us. Thank you! I love you!