Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has pledged to make every effort to grant the wish of a terminally ill Borderlands fan, Caleb McAlpine, to experience 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 battling stage 4 cancer, expressed his heartfelt desire to play the upcoming Borderlands 4 before his passing. His Reddit post, detailing his love for the series and his terminal diagnosis (received in August), garnered significant attention. His plea asked the community for assistance in contacting Gearbox.

McAlpine stated, "I'm a die-hard Borderlands fan and unsure if I'll live to see Borderlands 4. Can anyone help me contact Gearbox to see if early access is possible?"

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford responded swiftly on Twitter (X), promising to explore all avenues to fulfill McAlpine's wish. Pitchford tweeted his gratitude to those who brought the request to his attention and assured McAlpine that they would "do everything possible to make this happen." He later confirmed ongoing email communication with McAlpine.

Borderlands 4, revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is slated for a 2025 release. However, this timeframe presents a significant challenge for McAlpine, whose prognosis, as detailed on his GoFundMe page, is 7-12 months, possibly extending to two years with successful chemotherapy.

Despite his prognosis, McAlpine maintains a positive outlook. A September GoFundMe update reads, "Some days are harder than others, but I hold onto my faith, believing God will guide the doctors to heal me."

His GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise $9,000 for medical expenses, has already collected $6,210 from 128 donors.

Gearbox's Track Record of Supporting Fans

This isn't the first time Gearbox has demonstrated compassion towards its fanbase. In 2019, Trevor Eastman, a Borderlands fan battling cancer, received an early copy of Borderlands 3. Eastman, sadly, passed away later that year, but Gearbox honored him by naming a legendary weapon, the Trevonator, in his memory.

Furthermore, in 2011, following the death of fan Michael Mamaril, Gearbox created an NPC in Borderlands 2 named after him, a tribute requested by Mamaril's friend.

While Borderlands 4's release remains some time away, Gearbox's commitment to McAlpine and its history of supporting fans offers hope. Pitchford's statement in a Business Wire press release following the game's announcement emphasizes Gearbox's dedication to enhancing the Borderlands experience. Further details on the game's direction are awaited. In the meantime, fans can add Borderlands 4 to their Steam wishlists.