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

Borderlands Creator and Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has committed to doing everything possible to fulfill the heartfelt wish of terminally ill Borderlands fan Caleb McAlpine—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 diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August, shared his deep love for the series and his poignant wish on Reddit. Facing a limited time frame, McAlpine expressed his desire to experience Borderlands 4, slated for a 2025 release, before his condition worsens.

"So I am a diehard Borderlands fan and don’t know if I will be around for Borderlands 4," McAlpine wrote. "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 widely, catching the attention of Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford. Responding via Twitter (X), Pitchford expressed gratitude for the community's support and assured McAlpine that they would "do whatever we can to make something happen." Since then, the two have been communicating 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, contingent on development progress.

For McAlpine, time is of the essence. Diagnosed with stage 4 colon and liver cancer, doctors estimate he has between 7 to 12 months left, with a maximum of two years if chemotherapy proves successful. Despite his challenging situation, McAlpine remains hopeful, drawing inspiration from his faith.

"Some days will be harder than others, and some days I will want to give up," McAlpine shared 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."

His GoFundMe campaign, aimed at covering medical expenses and other necessities, has raised $6,210 from 128 donations, nearing his $9,000 goal.

Gearbox’s History of Granting Fan Wishes in Borderlands

Gearbox has a commendable history of fulfilling the wishes of fans facing serious illnesses. In May 2019, 27-year-old Borderlands fan Trevor Eastman, 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 poignant instance in 2011, following the death of 22-year-old Borderlands fan Michael Mamaril, his friend Carlos requested a tribute from Gearbox. Mamaril's favorite character, Claptrap, was to be featured in Borderlands 2 as a tribute.

Gearbox responded by not only including a tribute but also creating an NPC named after Mamaril in Sanctuary. This NPC generously rewards players with high-quality items, and receiving one grants the "Tribute to A Vault Hunter" achievement.

Borderlands 4's release may still be on the horizon, but McAlpine and other eager fans can find comfort in Gearbox's commitment to making the game an unforgettable experience. As Pitchford stated in a press release 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 are yet to be revealed, fans can add Borderlands 4 to their Steam wishlist and stay updated on the game’s release by checking out our related article below.