Terminally Ill Fan's Wish: Early Look at Borderlands 4

Borderlands Creator and Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has pledged to do everything possible to fulfill the heartfelt wish of terminally ill Borderlands fan Caleb McAlpine, who hopes to play the upcoming Borderlands 4 early.

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 devoted fan of the Borderlands series, is facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, Caleb took to Reddit to express his deep love for the game and his desire to experience Borderlands 4 before its scheduled 2025 release.

"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 poignant request caught the attention of Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, who responded via Twitter (X) with a commitment to help make Caleb’s dream come true. Pitchford thanked those who reached out and assured Caleb that they would "do whatever we can to make something happen." Since then, they have been communicating via email.

Borderlands 4 was unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, with Gearbox setting a tentative release window for 2025. However, without a specific release date, the game is still over a year away, potentially longer if development faces delays.

Unfortunately, time is not on Caleb McAlpine's side. According to his GoFundMe page, the 37-year-old has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon and liver cancer. Doctors estimate he has 7 to 12 months left, with a maximum of two years even 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 in a September update on his GoFundMe page. "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, his GoFundMe campaign has raised $6,210 with 128 donations, nearing his $9,000 goal. The funds will help cover his medical expenses, supplies, and other essential costs during his battle with cancer.

Gearbox’s History of Granting Fan Wishes in Borderlands

Gearbox has a history of compassion towards 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."

Sadly, Eastman passed away in October of that year. In his honor, Gearbox named a legendary weapon, the Trevonator, after him.

In 2011, following the death of Borderlands fan Michael Mamaril at age 22, his friend Carlos requested a tribute from Gearbox. Carlos asked for a message from Claptrap, Mamaril's favorite character, to be included in Borderlands 2.

Gearbox not only honored this request but exceeded expectations. They created an NPC named after Mamaril, located in Sanctuary, who generously rewards players with high-quality items. Receiving an item from Mamaril earns players the "Tribute to A Vault Hunter" achievement.

Borderlands 4’s release date may still be some time away, but McAlpine and other eager Vault Hunters can take comfort in Gearbox's commitment to making the game a cherished 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."

While details about these new directions remain under wraps, fans can add Borderlands 4 to their Steam wishlist and stay updated on the game’s release date and time by checking out our article below.