Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford fulfills the heartfelt wish of a dying Borderlands fan, Caleb McAlpine, promising early access to the highly anticipated Borderlands 4.

Terminally Ill Gamer's Wish to Play Borderlands 4 Early Granted

Gearbox CEO's Promise: Making a Dying Fan's Dream Come True

Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old battling terminal cancer, turned to the Reddit community with an emotional plea: He longed to experience Borderlands 4 before his time runs out. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, Caleb expressed his deep love for the franchise and his desire to play the upcoming installment, slated for a 2025 release.

McAlpine's moving request didn't go unheard. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford responded on Twitter (X), pledging to help make Caleb's dream a reality. Pitchford thanked those who brought the request to his attention and assured Caleb that they would "do everything possible to make this happen." Subsequent communications between Pitchford and McAlpine have confirmed ongoing efforts.

Borderlands 4, unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is currently projected for a 2025 release. However, this timeframe offers little comfort to McAlpine, whose prognosis, as detailed on his GoFundMe page, is limited to 7-12 months, potentially extending to two years with successful treatment.

Despite his prognosis, McAlpine maintains a positive outlook. He shared an update on his GoFundMe page in September, expressing his determination and faith.

At the time of this writing, his GoFundMe campaign has raised $6,210 from 128 donations, nearing its $9,000 goal. These funds will support his medical expenses and essential needs.

Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans

This act of kindness isn't unprecedented for Gearbox. In May 2019, they provided an early copy of Borderlands 3 to Trevor Eastman, another Borderlands fan battling cancer (esophageal, stomach, and liver). Eastman sadly 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 Borderlands fan Michael Mamaril, Gearbox honored his friend's request to include a Claptrap tribute in Borderlands 2. They went further, creating an NPC named after Mamaril in Sanctuary, who rewards players with valuable items and grants a special achievement.

While Borderlands 4's release date remains distant, Gearbox's commitment to fulfilling McAlpine's wish underscores their dedication to their community. As Pitchford stated in a Business Wire press release, Gearbox is "committed to making everything we love about Borderlands better than ever before."

Further details about Borderlands 4 await, but fans can add it to their Steam wishlists and stay updated on its release.