Borderlands 4 Early Look is Terminally Ill Fan's Wish

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has pledged to grant terminally ill Borderlands fan Caleb McAlpine's wish to play the upcoming Borderlands 4 early.

Terminally Ill Gamer's Wish to Play Borderlands 4 Early

Gearbox CEO Responds to Fan's Plea

Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old Borderlands enthusiast battling terminal cancer, appealed to the gaming community on Reddit. His heartfelt request? To experience Borderlands 4 before his passing. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, Caleb expressed his deep love for the series and his desire to play the anticipated 2025 release.

McAlpine's moving plea didn't go unnoticed. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford responded on Twitter (X), assuring Caleb that they would "do everything possible to make it happen." Subsequent communication via email confirms Gearbox's commitment to fulfilling McAlpine's wish.

Borderlands 4, revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is slated for a 2025 release. However, without a firm release date, the game remains over a year away, a timeframe McAlpine sadly lacks.

His GoFundMe page details his stage 4 colon and liver cancer diagnosis, with doctors estimating a life expectancy of 7-12 months, possibly extending to two years with successful chemotherapy.

Despite his prognosis, McAlpine maintains a positive outlook. His September GoFundMe update reflects his unwavering faith and determination.

At the time of writing, his GoFundMe has raised $6,210, nearing its $9,000 goal, to cover medical expenses and essential needs.

Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans

This isn't the first time Gearbox has shown remarkable compassion. In 2019, they provided an early copy of Borderlands 3 to Trevor Eastman, another Borderlands fan battling cancer. Eastman, sadly, passed away later that year, but his memory lives on through the "Trevonator," a legendary in-game weapon named in his honor.

In 2011, following the death of Borderlands fan Michael Mamaril, Gearbox honored his memory by creating an NPC in Borderlands 2 named after him, providing players with valuable in-game rewards and an achievement.

While Borderlands 4's release is still some time away, Gearbox's commitment to fulfilling McAlpine's wish and their history of supporting fans offers hope and underscores their dedication to the community. Pitchford's statement in a Business Wire press release emphasizes Gearbox's ambitious vision for Borderlands 4, promising improvements and exciting new directions for the franchise.

Fans can add Borderlands 4 to their Steam wishlists and await further updates on the release date.