Rockstar Games/TwitterVideo game company Rockstar Games allowed a terminally ill gamer to play the highly anticipated Red Dead Redemption 2 a month before its release.
Jurian, a big Red Dead Redemption fan, suffers from a hereditary disease called neurofibromatosis type 2. His illness is terminal, so recognising he might not be alive to see the game’s sequel be released, him and his father attempted to contact Rockstar Games.
The pair were inspired by past stories of ill people being given the chance to play games ahead of their release.
Jurian’s father Harm got in touch with the studio to ask if his video game-loving son would be allowed to play the game, which is set to be released on October 26.
Rockstar GamesRockstar intel translated and shared Jurian’s story, where he explained:
Sadly, I am in the last weeks of my life. My treatment is over. Since 2004 I have been fighting a rare, chronic disease named neurofibromatosis type 2, which causes many “benign” tumors to grow in my body. I’ve survived for long, but I am done now.
Harm asked the company if they had a copy of the game which his son would be allowed to play early, as an exception. Jurian explained Rockstar Netherlands were willing to let him play the game, but had to contact the company’s headquarters for clearance.
Thankfully, permission was given and and two employees from Rockstar Netherlands went to visit Jurian, taking with them a private demonstration of the game.
Jurian enjoyed an afternoon of gameplay on Red Dead Redemption 2 .
Telling his story to Dutch gaming news outlet Gamersnet.nl, he said:
Seeing as I read an article a short while ago about a similar case with Nintendo, I thought I’d share, seeing as Rockstar did me a favour as well.
The news outlet explained their reaction when Jurian turned to them to tell his story:
Silent, is what we were, when Jurian approached us via our Facebook page.
His fight is over, and he’s now in the last phase of his life. Being a large fan of Red Dead Redemption 2, he really wanted to get to see and play the game, which resulted in his father, Harm, contacting Rockstar.
They added:
Within each company, small or large, are beautiful people at work the likes of which make these kind of things possible and we’re proud that Jurian was willing to share this with us, and that Rockstar made this possible.
We wish Jurian and his family well in the coming period, and we wish for them to have as many great moments together as possible.
What an incredible gesture; our thoughts are with Jurian and his family at this difficult time.
If you have a story you want to tell, send it to [email protected].
Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.