Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has pledged to grant terminally ill Borderlands fan Caleb McAlpine early access to the highly anticipated Borderlands 4.
Terminally Ill Gamer's Wish to Play Borderlands 4 Early
Gearbox CEO's Promise: Making a Dream Come True
Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old Borderlands enthusiast battling terminal cancer, made a heartfelt plea on Reddit: to experience Borderlands 4 before his passing. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, Caleb expressed his deep love for the series and his desire to play the upcoming game, slated for a 2025 release.
McAlpine's request resonated deeply, reaching Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford. Pitchford responded on Twitter (X), promising to explore every avenue to fulfill Caleb's wish. He confirmed subsequent 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 McAlpine, whose prognosis, as detailed on his GoFundMe page, is 7-12 months, possibly extending to two years with successful treatment.
Despite his circumstances, McAlpine maintains a positive outlook. His GoFundMe page, aiming to raise $9,000 for medical expenses, has already garnered over $6,210 in donations.
Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans
This act of compassion 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 through the "Trevonator" legendary weapon named in his honor.
Furthermore, in 2011, Gearbox honored the memory of Michael Mamaril by creating an NPC in Borderlands 2 named after him, a tribute requested by his friend.
Gearbox's commitment to its community is evident. While Borderlands 4's release remains some time away, McAlpine and other fans can anticipate a game developed with passion and dedication, as stated by Pitchford in a Business Wire press release. The specifics of Borderlands 4's innovations remain to be seen, but players can add it to their Steam wishlists and monitor updates for the official release date.
