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 emotional plea didn't go unnoticed. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford responded on Twitter (X), promising to explore every avenue to make Caleb's dream a reality. Pitchford expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and assured Caleb that they would "do everything possible to make this happen," adding that they've since been in email contact.
Borderlands 4, unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is currently slated for a 2025 release. However, without a firm release date, the game remains over a year away, a timeframe unfortunately beyond Caleb's reach.
According to his GoFundMe page, Caleb's prognosis is 7-12 months, possibly extending to two years with successful chemotherapy. Despite his grim diagnosis, Caleb maintains a positive outlook, drawing strength from his faith.
His GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise $9,000 for medical expenses, has garnered significant support, exceeding $6,210 at the time of writing.
Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans
This isn't the first time Gearbox has demonstrated its compassion for its community. In 2019, Trevor Eastman, a Borderlands fan battling cancer, received an early copy of Borderlands 3 before his passing in October of that year. In tribute, Gearbox named a legendary weapon, the Trevonator, in his honor.
Furthermore, in 2011, following the death of fan Michael Mamaril, Gearbox honored his memory by creating an NPC in Borderlands 2 named after him, providing players with valuable in-game rewards.
While Borderlands 4's release remains some time away, Gearbox's commitment to fulfilling McAlpine's wish is a testament to their dedication to their fanbase. As Pitchford stated in a press release, Gearbox is striving to "make everything we love about Borderlands better than ever before."
Further details regarding Borderlands 4's features are forthcoming. In the meantime, fans can add the game to their Steam wishlist and follow updates for the official release date.
