Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford fulfills the heartfelt wish of a dying Borderlands fan, Caleb McAlpine, promising early access to the highly anticipated Borderlands 4.
Terminally Ill Gamer's Wish for Early Borderlands 4 Access Granted
Gearbox CEO Responds to Fan's Plea
Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old battling stage 4 cancer, made an emotional appeal on Reddit, expressing his desire to experience Borderlands 4 before his passing. His love for the series and his impending limited time spurred a wave of support.
McAlpine's request didn't go unnoticed. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford responded on Twitter (X), pledging to "do whatever we can to make something happen." Subsequent communications confirmed their efforts to grant McAlpine's wish.
Borderlands 4, unveiled at Gamescom 2024, is slated for a 2025 release. However, for McAlpine, time is of the essence. His GoFundMe campaign, aiming to cover medical expenses, has garnered significant support.
Despite his diagnosis, McAlpine maintains a positive outlook, drawing strength from his faith. His GoFundMe page, which has already exceeded $6,000 in donations, reflects the community's outpouring of compassion.
Gearbox's History of Supporting Fans
This isn't the first instance of Gearbox demonstrating empathy towards its community. In 2019, they provided an early copy of Borderlands 3 to another terminally ill fan, Trevor Eastman, a gesture that deeply touched him before his passing. Eastman's legacy lives on through the in-game weapon, the Trevonator.
Furthermore, in 2011, Gearbox honored the memory of Michael Mamaril by creating an NPC in Borderlands 2 named after him, a testament to their commitment to their fans.
Gearbox's dedication to its players extends beyond the game itself. While the release of Borderlands 4 remains some time away, their compassionate actions ensure that McAlpine and fellow fans can anticipate a game made with love and care. As Pitchford emphasized in a Business Wire press release, Gearbox is committed to exceeding expectations with Borderlands 4.
Further details regarding Borderlands 4's features will be revealed in due course. Until then, fans can add the game to their Steam wishlists and stay updated on release information.
