Discover the heartwarming story of Caleb McAlpine, a dedicated Borderlands fan battling cancer, who was granted an early sneak peek at Borderlands 4 thanks to the generous support of the gaming community and Gearbox.
Gearbox Fulfilled a Fan’s Wish
Borderlands 4 Sneak Peek
Caleb McAlpine, a passionate Borderlands enthusiast facing cancer, recently had his dream come true when he was invited to play the eagerly awaited Borderlands 4. In a heartfelt Reddit post dated November 26, Caleb shared that Gearbox flew him and a friend first-class to their studio on the 20th of the month. There, they toured the facilities and met the talented developers, including Randy Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox.
Describing his experience, Caleb said, "We got to play what they have for Borderlands 4 so far and it was amazing." He further detailed his memorable visit, "So Gearbox flew me and a friend down first class on the 20th of this month, and we got to tour the studio and meet an amazing bunch of people from some of the devs of all of the Borderlands games up to Randy, the CEO."
Following this incredible experience, Caleb and his friend stayed at the Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star, adjacent to The Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters. The hotel, eager to contribute to Caleb's special visit, arranged a VIP tour of their facility, adding to the excitement of his trip.
While Caleb kept details about Borderlands 4 under wraps, he expressed immense gratitude for the experience, saying, "It was an amazing experience and it was just awesome." He extended his thanks to everyone who supported his wish and showed kindness during his challenging time.
Caleb’s Request to Gearbox
On October 24, 2024, Caleb reached out to the Borderlands community on Reddit, sharing his battle with cancer and his limited time left, stating, "I was given 7-12 months and IF chemo works to slow the progression of the cancer I still have less than 2 years." His heartfelt plea was to experience Borderlands 4 before his time ran out, asking, "Is there anyone that knows how to get in touch with Gearbox to see if there is a way to play the game early?" He acknowledged it as a "long shot" but hoped for a miracle.
The Borderlands community rallied around Caleb, spreading his story and advocating for his wish to be fulfilled. Their efforts paid off when Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox, responded the same day via a Twitter(X) post linked to Caleb's Reddit thread. "Caleb and I are now chatting via e-mail and we’re going to do whatever we can to make something happen," he stated. After about a month of communication, Gearbox made Caleb's dream a reality by allowing him early access to Borderlands 4 ahead of its 2025 release.
In addition to this heartwarming gesture, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Caleb in his fight against cancer. The campaign has already raised $12,415 USD, surpassing its $9,000 goal, with continued support flowing in as news of Caleb's Borderlands 4 experience spreads across the internet.
