Borderlands 4: Dying Fan's Wish Granted

A Terminally Ill Gamer's Wish: An Early Look at Borderlands 4

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has pledged his full support to fulfill the heartfelt wish of Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old Borderlands fan battling terminal cancer. Caleb's earnest request, shared on Reddit, was to experience the upcoming Borderlands 4 before his passing.

Facing a stage 4 cancer diagnosis since August, Caleb expressed his deep love for the Borderlands franchise and his desire to play the anticipated 2025 release. His plea resonated deeply, prompting a swift and compassionate response from Pitchford on Twitter (X). Pitchford assured Caleb that Gearbox would "do whatever we can to make something happen," and subsequent communication via email indicates active efforts to grant this wish.

Borderlands 4, revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is currently slated for a 2025 launch. However, with no concrete release date, the game remains over a year away. Unfortunately, Caleb's circumstances necessitate urgent action. His GoFundMe page details his stage 4 colon and liver cancer diagnosis, with doctors estimating a life expectancy of 7 to 12 months, potentially extending to two years with successful treatment.

Despite his prognosis, Caleb maintains an optimistic outlook, drawing strength from his faith. His GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise $9,000 for medical expenses, has already garnered significant support, exceeding $6,210 from 128 donations.

This isn't the first instance of Gearbox demonstrating remarkable empathy towards their community. In 2019, they provided an early copy of Borderlands 3 to Trevor Eastman, another fan battling cancer. Sadly, Trevor passed away later that year, but Gearbox honored his memory by naming a legendary weapon, the Trevonator, after him. Similarly, in 2011, they paid tribute to Michael Mamaril, creating an NPC in Borderlands 2 named after him.

While Borderlands 4's release remains some time away, Gearbox's commitment to fulfilling Caleb's wish underscores their dedication to their fans. As Pitchford emphasized in a Business Wire press release, the team is striving to surpass expectations and deliver an exceptional Borderlands experience. While specific details remain under wraps, the anticipation is palpable. Fans can add Borderlands 4 to their Steam wishlists and stay updated on the latest news.