Borderlands 4 Early Access: Fans Rave

Borderlands enthusiast Caleb McAlpine, facing cancer, had the chance to preview Borderlands 4 thanks to the gaming community and Gearbox. Read on to learn more about his uplifting experience.

Gearbox Granted a Fan’s WishBorderlands 4 Early Access

A shrewd Borderlands fan battling cancer, Caleb McAlpine, realized his lifelong dream of playing the forthcoming looter shooter game Borderlands 4. In his Reddit post on November 26, Caleb was flown to Gearbox’s studio, met the developers, and previewed this highly anticipated game.

Caleb described his Borderlands 4 experience. "We got to play what they have for Borderlands 4 so far and it was amazing," he shared. He also gave a brief account of this unique event. "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 group of people from some of the developers of all of the Borderlands games up to Randy, the CEO," he shared.

After this exceptional experience, he stayed with his friend at the Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star, where The Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters is also located. The hotel was welcoming to Caleb "wanted to do something nice as well and got us in on a VIP tour of the entire facility," he shared.

Though Caleb did not disclose any information about Borderlands 4, he considered this event "an amazing experience and it was just awesome." Moreover, he thanked those who supported his request and showed love and support for his situation.

Caleb’s Request to Gearbox

Using the same platform, Caleb previously posted his request for assistance from Borderlands fans on October 24, 2024. He briefly described his medical situation and stated, "I was given 7-12mo and IF chemo works to slow the progression of the cancer I still have less than 2 years."

Therefore, Caleb hoped to play Borderlands 4 before passing. "Is there anyone that knows how to contact Gearbox to see if there is a way to play the game early?" he asked. Though he called this a "long shot," Caleb’s plea resonated with the Borderlands community on Reddit and elsewhere.

Many empathized with his situation, hoping for his recovery and the fulfillment of his wish. His request went viral as numerous people contacted Gearbox to urge the developer to grant his request.

Randy Pitchford, Gearbox’s CEO, responded that day via a Twitter(X) post linked to Caleb’s Reddit post. "Caleb and I are now emailing and we’re going to do whatever we can to make something happen," he shared. After about a month of communication, Gearbox granted Caleb’s wish and provided early access to the game before its 2025 release.

A GoFundMe campaign supports Caleb’s cancer battle. He's currently raised $12,415 USD, exceeding the $9K goal. More people are contributing as news of his Borderlands 4 gameplay spreads online.