Borderlands 4 Early Look is Terminally Ill Fan's Wish

Randy Pitchford, creator of Borderlands and CEO of Gearbox, has pledged to fulfill the wish of terminally ill Borderlands fan, Caleb McAlpine, to play the upcoming Borderlands 4 early.

Terminally Ill Borderlands Fan's Wish to Play Borderlands 4 Early

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford Promises to "Do Whatever They Can"

Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old Borderlands enthusiast battling terminal cancer, made a heartfelt request 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 anticipated looter-shooter, slated for a 2025 release.

"I'm a diehard Borderlands fan and don't know if I'll be around for Borderlands 4," McAlpine shared. "Can anyone help me contact Gearbox to see if early access is possible?"

His plea resonated deeply, reaching Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, who responded on Twitter (X) with a promise to help. Pitchford thanked those who brought the request to his attention and assured Caleb that they would "do whatever we can to make something happen," adding that they've since been in email contact.

Borderlands 4 was revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, with Gearbox announcing a tentative 2025 release. However, without a firm release date, the game remains over a year away, barring unforeseen delays. This leaves Caleb facing a critical time constraint. His GoFundMe page reveals a stage 4 colon and liver cancer diagnosis, with doctors estimating a 7-12 month life expectancy, possibly extending to two years with successful chemotherapy.

Despite his prognosis, McAlpine maintains a positive outlook. In a September GoFundMe update, he stated, "Some days will be harder than others, and some days I'll want to give up, but I think of Job and his unwavering faith. That's what I have—faith that God will guide the doctors to heal me."

His GoFundMe page has raised $6,210 from 128 donations, nearing its $9,000 goal to cover medical expenses and essential needs.

Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans

This isn't Gearbox's first act of compassion. In May 2019, 27-year-old Trevor Eastman, battling esophageal, stomach, and liver cancer, received an early copy of Borderlands 3. Eastman expressed his gratitude, sharing that a 2K representative made it happen. Sadly, Eastman passed away in October 2019, but Gearbox honored him by naming a legendary weapon, the Trevonator, after him.

In 2011, following the death of Borderlands fan Michael Mamaril at 22, his friend Carlos requested a Claptrap tribute in Borderlands 2. Gearbox responded by creating an NPC named after Mamaril in Sanctuary, rewarding players with high-quality items and granting the "Tribute to A Vault Hunter" achievement.

Borderlands 4's release date remains distant, but McAlpine and fellow fans can find comfort in Gearbox's commitment to creating a cherished game. As Pitchford stated in a Business Wire press release, "We at Gearbox have massive ambitions for Borderlands 4, striving to improve everything we love about Borderlands and explore exciting new directions."

Further details remain to be seen. In the meantime, players can wishlist Borderlands 4 on Steam and stay updated on its release via [ttpp].