Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford fulfills the wish of a dying Borderlands fan, Caleb McAlpine, to experience Borderlands 4 early.
Terminally Ill Gamer's Wish to Play Borderlands 4 Early Granted
Gearbox CEO Steps Up to Help Dying Fan
Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old battling terminal cancer, expressed his heartfelt desire on Reddit to play the upcoming Borderlands 4 before his passing. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, Caleb's love for the Borderlands franchise motivated his plea to the community.
"I'm a huge Borderlands fan and unsure if I'll live to see Borderlands 4," McAlpine shared. "Can anyone help me contact Gearbox to see if early access is possible?"
His request didn't go unnoticed. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford responded on X (formerly Twitter), pledging to help make Caleb's wish come true. Pitchford thanked those who brought the situation to his attention and assured Caleb that they would "explore every avenue to make this happen." Subsequent communications between Pitchford and McAlpine have been confirmed.
Borderlands 4, unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is slated for a 2025 release. However, this timeframe is unfortunately beyond McAlpine's prognosis. His GoFundMe page reveals a stage 4 colon and liver cancer diagnosis, with doctors estimating a life expectancy of 7-12 months, possibly extending to two years with successful treatment.
Despite his prognosis, McAlpine maintains a positive outlook. "Some days are harder than others," he shared on his GoFundMe page in September. "But I hold onto my faith that God will guide the doctors to heal me."
His GoFundMe campaign has raised over $6,210 from 128 donations, nearing its $9,000 goal to cover medical expenses.
Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans
This isn't the first time Gearbox has shown kindness to ill fans. In 2019, Trevor Eastman, battling cancer, received an early copy of Borderlands 3. Eastman, sadly, passed away later that year, but his memory lives on through the in-game legendary weapon, the Trevonator, 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, who rewards players with valuable items.
While Borderlands 4's release remains some time away, Gearbox's commitment to McAlpine and its history of supporting fans underscores its dedication to its community. As Pitchford stated in a Business Wire press release, "Gearbox is committed to making Borderlands 4 the best iteration yet."
Further details about Borderlands 4's features await, but fans can add it to their Steam wishlists and stay updated on release information.
