Saber hid an insult in a trailer: CEO jabbed Randy Pitchford over Embracer

Saber Interactive slipped a hidden dig at Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford into the trailer for its upcoming game Rideshare 'Stimulator' — the quotation marks are part of the official title. CEO Matt Karch confirmed to Game File that it was a deliberate taunt, sparked by Pitchford's criticism of Embracer Group.

The video, shown recently, contains two hints that most viewers would likely miss. Midway through, the narrator mentions "the randiest of passengers," using the word "randy" as a direct nod to Randy's name. A few seconds later, a personalized Texas license plate appears reading USB DRV, with a gear-like symbol instead of the state's usual imagery — an allusion to the USB drive story and the Gearbox logo.

The reference ties back to a semi-legendary tale about Pitchford. According to the story, he copied a video of a webcam model onto a flash drive not for personal enjoyment but to study a trick — Pitchford is known for his interest in magic. He accidentally left the drive at Medieval Times; it was found and returned, but while the Gearbox chief was away on a business trip, studio staff reviewed the contents, giving birth to a long-running joke.

The jab in the trailer has a more serious motive. Karch said Pitchford had previously taken shots at Embracer in the context of Borderlands 4. "Without Embracer, Randy is performing magic tricks at birthday parties for a living," the Saber head stated. This response served as payback for the remarks aimed at the company Saber was formerly tied to.

The trailer itself, according to its creators, is deliberately odd — featuring strange passengers and absurd scenarios. The hints are woven in so they can be read without effort, yet aren't immediately conspicuous. Sharp-eyed journalist Stephen Totilo from Game File spotted the details and asked directly, which uncovered the backstory.