Borderlands 4 Early Access Was \"Amazing\" According to Fan

Borderlands fan Caleb McAlpine, who is courageously battling cancer, had the heartwarming opportunity to experience Borderlands 4 early, thanks to the supportive game community and Gearbox. Dive into the inspiring story of his unforgettable journey.

Gearbox Fulfilled a Fan’s Wish

Borderlands 4 Sneak Peek

Caleb McAlpine, a dedicated Borderlands fan facing cancer, had his dream come true when he was given the chance to play the highly anticipated looter shooter, 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 an incredible team, including developers from all Borderlands games and the CEO, Randy Pitchford.

Caleb's experience with Borderlands 4 was nothing short of amazing. "We got to play what they have for Borderlands 4 so far and it was amazing," he exclaimed. Following the studio visit, Caleb and his friend stayed at the Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star, near The Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters. The hotel, touched by Caleb's story, arranged a VIP tour of the entire facility for them.

While Caleb kept the details of Borderlands 4 under wraps, he emphasized the overall experience as "an amazing experience and it was just awesome." He expressed deep gratitude to everyone who supported his request and showed love and support during his challenging time.

Caleb’s Request to Gearbox

On October 24, 2024, Caleb reached out to the Borderlands community via Reddit, sharing his dire medical situation. Diagnosed with a prognosis of 7-12 months, and potentially less than two years even with successful chemotherapy, Caleb expressed his heartfelt desire to play Borderlands 4 before his time ran out. "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 asked, acknowledging it as a "long shot" wish.

The Borderlands community rallied around Caleb, spreading his request far and wide. Their efforts paid off when Gearbox's CEO, Randy Pitchford, responded swiftly on 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," Pitchford promised. After about a month of communication, Gearbox made Caleb's dream a reality by granting him early access to Borderlands 4 ahead of its 2025 release.

In addition to this incredible gesture, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Caleb in his ongoing battle against cancer. The campaign has raised $12,415 USD, surpassing the initial $9,000 goal, as more people continue to support Caleb's cause, inspired by his story and the opportunity to play Borderlands 4.