Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has pledged to help terminally ill Borderlands fan Caleb McAlpine experience 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 stage 4 cancer, made an emotional appeal on Reddit: He yearned to play Borderlands 4 before his passing. Diagnosed in August, Caleb expressed his deep love for the series and his desperate hope to experience the new game, slated for a 2025 release.
"I'm a huge Borderlands fan, and I don't know if I'll be around for Borderlands 4," Caleb wrote. "Can anyone help me contact Gearbox to see if early access is possible?"
His heartfelt message reached Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, who responded on Twitter (X) with a commitment to assist. Pitchford thanked those who brought the request to his attention and assured Caleb they'd "do everything we can to make this happen." He later confirmed ongoing email communication with McAlpine.
Borderlands 4, unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is currently projected for a 2025 release. However, this timeframe presents a significant challenge for Caleb, whose doctors estimate he has only 7-12 months to live, possibly extending to two years with successful treatment, according to his GoFundMe page.
Despite his prognosis, McAlpine maintains a positive outlook. In a September GoFundMe update, he shared, "Some days are harder than others, but I focus on my faith, believing God will guide the doctors to heal me."
His GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise $9,000 for medical expenses, has already garnered $6,210 from 128 donors.
Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans
This act of kindness isn't unprecedented for Gearbox. In 2019, they provided an early copy of Borderlands 3 to Trevor Eastman, another Borderlands fan battling cancer. Sadly, Eastman passed away later that year, but his memory lives on – Gearbox named a legendary weapon, the Trevonator, in his honor.
In 2011, following the death of fan Michael Mamaril, Gearbox honored his friend's request by creating an NPC in Borderlands 2 named after Mamaril, providing players with valuable in-game rewards and a unique achievement.
While Borderlands 4's official release remains some time away, Gearbox's commitment to McAlpine and its history of compassionate gestures offer hope. As Pitchford stated in a Business Wire press release, "We at Gearbox have huge ambitions for Borderlands 4, striving to improve everything we love about the series while pushing the game in exciting new directions." Further details about these new directions await. In the meantime, fans can add Borderlands 4 to their Steam wishlist to stay updated.
