Terminally Ill Fan Granted Last Wish: Sneak Peek of 'Borderlands 4'

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford fulfills the heartfelt wish of a dying Borderlands fan, Caleb McAlpine, to experience Borderlands 4 early.

Terminally Ill Gamer's Wish to Play Borderlands 4 Early Granted

Gearbox CEO's Promise: Making a Dream Come True

Caleb McAlpine, a devoted 37-year-old Borderlands fan battling terminal cancer, turned to Reddit with an emotional plea: He longed to play Borderlands 4 before his passing. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, Caleb expressed his deep love for the series and his desire to experience the upcoming 2025 release.

McAlpine's moving request didn't go unnoticed. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford responded on Twitter (X), pledging to help. Pitchford thanked those who brought the situation to his attention and assured Caleb they'd "do whatever we can to make something happen." Subsequently, Pitchford confirmed ongoing email communication with McAlpine.

Borderlands 4, revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is slated for a 2025 release. However, the lack of a precise date means the game is still over a year away, barring unforeseen delays.

McAlpine, sadly, faces a limited timeframe. 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 optimism. A September GoFundMe update stated, "Some days will be harder than others...But I just think about Job...and that’s what I have, faith that God will direct the doctors to heal me."

At the time of writing, his GoFundMe has raised $6,210 from 128 donors, nearing its $9,000 goal for medical expenses.

Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans

This isn't Gearbox's first act of kindness towards ill fans. In May 2019, 27-year-old Trevor Eastman, battling esophageal, stomach, and liver cancer, received an early Borderlands 3 copy. Eastman, sadly, passed away in October 2019, but Gearbox honored him by naming a legendary weapon, the Trevonator, in his memory.

In 2011, following the death of Borderlands fan Michael Mamaril (22), his friend requested a Claptrap tribute in Borderlands 2. Gearbox went beyond expectations, creating an NPC named after Mamaril in Sanctuary, rewarding players with high-quality loot and granting a "Tribute to A Vault Hunter" achievement.

Borderlands 4's release remains distant, but McAlpine and fellow fans can find comfort in Gearbox's dedication. As Pitchford stated in a Business Wire press release, "All of us at Gearbox have massive ambitions for Borderlands 4...making everything we love about Borderlands better...taking the game to new levels."

Further details await, but players can wishlist Borderlands 4 on Steam and follow updates for the official release date and time.