A Terminally Ill Gamer's Wish: An Early Look at Borderlands 4
Randy Pitchford, the creative mind behind Borderlands and CEO of Gearbox, has pledged his full support to fulfill the heartfelt request of Caleb McAlpine, a terminally ill Borderlands enthusiast. Caleb, diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, expressed his fervent desire to experience the upcoming Borderlands 4 before his passing.
This 37-year-old superfan's plea, shared on Reddit, resonated deeply within the gaming community. His heartfelt message highlighted his enduring love for the Borderlands series and his wish to play the anticipated 2025 release. Pitchford responded swiftly on Twitter (X), assuring Caleb that Gearbox would "do whatever we can to make something happen," and confirmed subsequent email communications.
Borderlands 4, unveiled at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, is still over a year away. However, Caleb's limited time necessitates immediate action. His GoFundMe page reveals his stage 4 colon and liver cancer diagnosis, with a prognosis of 7-12 months, possibly extending to two years with successful treatment.
Despite his challenging circumstances, Caleb maintains a positive outlook. His GoFundMe page, which has raised over $6,000 towards its $9,000 goal, will fund medical expenses and essential needs.
Gearbox's Compassionate History
This isn't the first instance of Gearbox demonstrating empathy towards fans facing illness. In 2019, Trevor Eastman, battling cancer, received an early copy of Borderlands 3. Sadly, Trevor passed away later that year, but his memory lives on through the in-game legendary weapon, the Trevonator.
Another touching tribute involved Michael Mamaril, a Borderlands fan who passed away in 2011. At the request of his friend, Gearbox included a tribute to Mamaril in Borderlands 2, creating an NPC in his honor who rewards players with valuable items.
Gearbox's commitment to creating a cherished experience for players is evident in Pitchford's statement following the Borderlands 4 announcement: "We at Gearbox have massive ambitions...making everything we love about Borderlands better than ever before." While details remain scarce, the anticipation for Borderlands 4 is palpable, and the hope is that Caleb and fellow fans will experience the game's magic.
