Gearbox Grants Terminally Ill Fan a Heartwarming Early Play of Borderlands 4

Heartening Gesture for a Borderlands Superfan

In an uplifting instance of humanity, Gearbox, the creators of the popular video game Borderlands, revealed they have gifted a terminally ill Borderlands fan with an early sneak peek of Borderlands 4. The dedicated fan had expressed his uncertainty earlier about whether he would be able to witness the upcoming installment of the game.

A Special Studio Visit

Caleb McAlpine, a 37-year-old Borderlands enthusiast, took to Reddit last month, breaking the news of his battle with late-stage terminal cancer. According to the doctors, he has seven to 12 months to live if the cancer defies chemotherapy, and less than two years even if the medical treatments hold up. Given his steadfast love for the Borderlands series and his bleak prognosis, McAlpine reached out for assistance in getting in touch with Gearbox to explore the possibility of early access to Borderlands 4.

Less than a month later, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford signaled his willingness to offer whatever help they could. True to his words, Gearbox organized a premium visit for McAlpine to their studio. According to McAlpine's account, "Gearbox flew me and a friend down first class on 20th of this month and we got to tour the studio, meet an array of Borderland's developers, and even Randy, the CEO".

A Memorable Gaming Experience

During this special trip, McAlpine received the opportunity to play the as-yet-unreleased Borderlands 4. "It was amazing", he shared while expressing his gratitude to everyone who helped make this unique experience possible. "I don't know if I will be around when the game comes out, but I just want to say thank you to all of you for all your love and support, and for helping in making this happen", he added.

Beyond the virtual world, McAlpine's GoFundMe campaign, set up to fund his medical treatments, has witnessed a significant boost in support following his Reddit post in October. Since its commencement, the campaign has achieved beyond its initial goal of $9,000, standing at a commendable total of $12,390 at the time of this writing.