Borderlands Creator and Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has pledged to do everything in his power to fulfill the heartfelt wish of terminally ill Borderlands fan Caleb McAlpine, who hopes to play the upcoming Borderlands 4 before its official release.
Terminally Ill Borderlands Fan Wishes to Play Borderlands 4 Early
Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford Promises They’ll Do “Whatever They Can to Make Something Happen”
Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old avid Borderlands fan, recently shared his battle with terminal cancer on Reddit, expressing his deep desire to experience Borderlands 4 before his time runs out. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, McAlpine's love for the looter-shooter series has driven him to reach out to the community for help in connecting with Gearbox.
"So I am a diehard Borderlands fan and don’t know if I will be around for Borderlands 4," McAlpine shared. "Is there anyone that knows how to get in touch with Gearbox to see if there is a way to play the game early?"
His plea resonated deeply within the gaming community, catching the attention of Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford. Responding on X (formerly Twitter), Pitchford expressed gratitude for the community's support and promised to do "whatever we can to make something happen." Since then, Pitchford has been in direct communication with McAlpine via email.
Borderlands 4 was officially unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, with Gearbox setting a tentative release window for 2025. However, with no specific release date announced, the game is still over a year away, leaving McAlpine with limited time. According to his GoFundMe page, McAlpine was diagnosed with stage 4 colon and liver cancer, with doctors estimating he has between 7 to 12 months left, and a maximum of two years with successful chemotherapy.
Despite his challenging situation, McAlpine remains hopeful. "Some days will be harder than others, and some days I will want to give up," he wrote on his GoFundMe page in September. "But I just think about Job from the Bible and how everything was taken from him, but he never lost his faith. And that’s what I have, faith that God will direct the doctors to heal me so I can continue to be the loving, adorable annoying Caleb that you all know and love."
At the time of writing, McAlpine's GoFundMe campaign has raised $6,210 from 128 donations, nearing his $9,000 goal to help cover medical expenses and essential costs.
Gearbox’s History of Granting Fan Wishes in Borderlands
Gearbox has a history of fulfilling the wishes of fans facing serious illnesses. In May 2019, Trevor Eastman, a 27-year-old Borderlands fan battling esophageal, stomach, and liver cancer, received an early copy of Borderlands 3. "One of the people from 2k has been talking to me (not sure if I'm allowed to say who so I won't mention a name) and he's making it happen," Eastman shared. "They're flying somebody out at the beginning of June most likely to give me a copy of the game. I just wanted to thank you all so much for helping make this dream come true. It means the world to me that you all cared enough to do that for me."
Tragically, Eastman passed away in October of that year. In his honor, Gearbox named a legendary weapon in the game, the Trevonator, after him.
In another touching gesture, following the passing of 22-year-old Borderlands fan Michael Mamaril in 2011, Gearbox honored his memory in Borderlands 2. At the request of Mamaril's friend Carlos, Gearbox created an NPC named after Mamaril in the game's Sanctuary area. This NPC, known for his generosity, rewards players with high-quality items, and receiving one of these items grants the "Tribute to A Vault Hunter" achievement.
While Borderlands 4's release date remains distant, McAlpine and other eager fans can take comfort in Gearbox's commitment to making the game a memorable experience. As Randy Pitchford stated in a press release with Business Wire after the game's announcement, "All of us at Gearbox have massive ambitions for Borderlands 4 and are putting everything we have into making everything we love about Borderlands better than ever before while taking the game to new levels in exciting new directions."
As fans await further details on what these new directions will entail, they can add Borderlands 4 to their Steam wishlist and stay updated on the game’s release date and time through our dedicated article.
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