Summary
A terminally ill fan of Gearbox’s legendary FPS series was able to playBorderlands 4ahead of its planned 2025 release. While it remains unclear when all fans of the game will be able to get their hands on the title,Borderlands 4remains one of the most highly anticipated releases of the next year.
Boasting four mainline titles and a number of popular spin-offs, theBorderlandsseries is going strong 15 years after the first title was released in 2009. Precious little is known aboutBorderlands 4, with a brief teaser trailer shown at Gamescom in August giving fans a tiny look at what they can expect. The internet has become a breeding ground for theories and requests leading up to the game’s inevitable launch, with many fans focused on the possibility of returning characters andwhoBorderlands 4will choose as its villain. One deserving fan now has at least some of these answers, being given the chance to try the game for himself.
In October, Gearbox Entertainment president and CEO Randy Pitchford reached out toa terminally illBorderlandsfannamed Caleb McAlpine who had taken to Reddit to ask for the chance to play the game early. The 37-year-old disabled veteran had taken to the online forum to explain that he had around two years left to live due to a cancer diagnosis and was eager to playBorderlands 4early. According to a newupdate post on Reddit, McAlpine’s dream came true, as Gearbox flew him and a friend to Gearbox’s headquarters in Frisco, Texas to give the game a try, as well as to meet the developers and Pitchford himself. “We got to play what they have forBorderlands 4so far, and it was amazing,” McAlpine wrote. “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 of your love and support and for helping in making this happen. It truly was an amazing experience and it was just awesome.”
Borderlands 4 is “Amazing” According to Terminally Ill Fan
In early November, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick gave a hint as towhen fans can expect to seeBorderlands 4. As Take-Two is hard at work onGrand Theft Auto 6, scheduled to release in Fall 2025, releasingBorderlands 4too close to such a massive title would be a huge mistake, according to the CEO. Weighing the options and givingGTA 6a few months of breathing room on either side, many fans believe thatBorderlands 4will arrive in either late spring or early summer 2025, depending on its current development status. Previously, Gearbox announced that the highly anticipated follow-up to 2019’sBorderlands 3would make its way to store shelves between July 28, 2025 and June 15, 2025.
While the game’s teaser trailer didn’t give the community much to go on, the devs have confirmed that four new Vault Hunters will make their debut inBorderlands 4. The game’s Art Director, Adam May, has also teased brighter colors in the upcoming title, with recently released concept art showing off more advanced tech and a completely different vibe than earlier entries. While many have been hoping to seethe return of Handsome Jack, Pitchford has gone on record to say that the new villain inBorderlands 4will be “something far more dangerous and sinister” than everyone’s favorite bad guy.
WHERE TO PLAY
Borderlands 4 brings intense action, badass Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant.Crash into Kairos as one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities.Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing mayhem across the planet.Ignite a resistance and blast your way through mechanical monstrosities, bloodthirsty bandits, and vicious beasts. Amass an arsenal of death-dealing firepower to wreak havoc as you tear your way across Kairos.Fight solo or in co-op with up to three other players in this immense sci-fi adventure, packed with free-form combat and exploration, pulse-pounding boss fights, infinitely varied loot drops, and an eclectic cast of unforgettable characters new and old.
