Borderlands 4 Early Look Fulfills Terminally Ill Fan's Wish

Borderlands Creator and Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has made a heartfelt promise to fulfill the wish of terminally ill Borderlands fan Caleb McAlpine, who hopes to play the upcoming Borderlands 4 early.

Terminally Ill Borderlands Fan Wishes to Play Borderlands 4 Early

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford Promises They’ll Do “Whatever They Can to Make Something Happen”

Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old devoted Borderlands fan, recently shared his battle with terminal cancer on Reddit, expressing his deep desire to experience the upcoming Borderlands 4 before his time runs out. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, Caleb's love for the looter-shooter series has been a significant part of his life, and he is eager to see what Borderlands 4 has in store, despite its planned release in 2025.

In his poignant post, Caleb stated, "So I am a diehard Borderlands fan and don’t know if I will be around for Borderlands 4. Is there anyone that knows how to get in touch with Gearbox to see if there is a way to play the game early?"

His heartfelt request resonated deeply within the community, catching the attention of Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford. Responding on Twitter (X), Pitchford expressed gratitude to those who brought Caleb's wish to his attention and assured Caleb that Gearbox would "do whatever we can to make something happen." Since then, Pitchford has confirmed ongoing communication with Caleb via email.

Borderlands 4 was officially unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, with Gearbox announcing a tentative release window for 2025. However, without a set release date, the game's arrival remains over a year away, potentially longer if development encounters delays.

Caleb McAlpine's situation is dire, with his GoFundMe page revealing a diagnosis of stage 4 colon and liver cancer. Doctors have given him a prognosis of 7 to 12 months, with a maximum of two years if chemotherapy proves successful. Despite his challenges, Caleb remains hopeful and draws strength from his faith, as he shared in a September update on his GoFundMe page: "Some days will be harder than others, and some days I will want to give up. But I just think about Job from the Bible and how everything was taken from him, but he never lost his faith. And that’s what I have, faith that God will direct the doctors to heal me so I can continue to be the loving, adorable annoying Caleb that you all know and love."

At the time of writing, Caleb's GoFundMe campaign has raised $6,210 with 128 donations, nearing his $9,000 goal. These funds will assist with his medical expenses, supplies, and other essential costs in his fight against cancer.

Gearbox’s History of Granting Fan Wishes in Borderlands

Gearbox has a history of going the extra mile for fans facing serious health challenges. In May 2019, Trevor Eastman, a 27-year-old Borderlands enthusiast battling esophageal, stomach, and liver cancer, was granted an early copy of Borderlands 3. Eastman shared his gratitude on social media, saying, "One of the people from 2k has been talking to me (not sure if I'm allowed to say who so I won't mention a name) and he's making it happen. They're flying somebody out at the beginning of June most likely to give me a copy of the game. I just wanted to thank you all so much for helping make this dream come true. It means the world to me that you all cared enough to do that for me."

Tragically, Eastman passed away in October of that year. In his honor, Gearbox named a legendary weapon, the Trevonator, after him.

In another touching instance in 2011, following the death of 22-year-old Borderlands fan Michael Mamaril, his friend Carlos reached out to Gearbox, requesting a tribute from Claptrap, Mamaril's favorite character, in Borderlands 2. Gearbox not only honored this request but exceeded expectations by creating an NPC named after Mamaril in Sanctuary. This NPC rewards players with high-quality items and offers the "Tribute to A Vault Hunter" achievement to those who receive his gifts.

While Borderlands 4's release date remains on the horizon, fans like Caleb can take comfort in Gearbox's commitment to making the game an unforgettable experience. As Randy Pitchford shared in a press release with Business Wire post-announcement, "All of us at Gearbox have massive ambitions for Borderlands 4 and are putting everything we have into making everything we love about Borderlands better than ever before while taking the game to new levels in exciting new directions."

As eager fans await further details on what these new directions entail, they can add Borderlands 4 to their Steam wishlist and stay updated on the game's release date and time by checking out our related articles.