The notion of what constitutes the ‘Citizen Kane’ of video games has been a topic of fervent discussion for years, but Randy Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox, reignited this debate during a recent documentary, 24 ‘Til Launch: The Making Of Borderlands 4, produced by Shacknews.

Pitchford exclaimed, “We haven’t even had our Citizen Kane yet, let alone, you know, Jurassic Park or Star Wars.” This statement suggests that, in his view, the gaming industry has yet to produce a universally recognized masterpiece that validates its status as an art form akin to iconic cinematic achievements.

As he reflects on the state of the gaming industry, Pitchford seems to believe that ongoing creativity and breakthroughs in quality are essential for the medium to gain the respect and acknowledgment some other art forms have already secured. The discussions around the legitimacy of games as legitimate forms of art have evolved, moving away from desperation for approval from skeptics, as gamers mature and the audience diversifies.

This commentary highlights the growing pains of the gaming sector and the tantalizing possibility that the most profound experiences in games are still on the horizon.