If you’ve recently caught a glimpse of the trailer for Saber Interactive’s upcoming Rideshare “Stimulator,” you might have found yourself raising an eyebrow at some of its peculiarities. Among the highlights, the narrator quips, “And when I think I’ve met the randiest of passengers, someone even stranger gets it.” This choice of words, particularly the term “randy,” which has largely fallen out of favor except in the realms of British television dramas, raises questions about the context and intent behind such a phrase. Moreover, the passengers depicted in the video hardly exude the enthusiasm one might associate with the term.
Game File took the opportunity to inquire about this curious choice directly with Saber Interactive CEO Matt Kartch. In a surprising twist, Kartch revealed that the reference was a deliberate nod to Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, known for his flair for the theatrical. The story behind this playful jab is rooted in a rather amusing incident involving Pitchford, who once left a drive at Medieval Times. The drive was returned by a good Samaritan, but during Pitchford’s absence on a work trip, his colleagues took the liberty of exploring its contents, leading to a legendary tale within the studio.
Behind the Humor
While the anecdote carries a lighthearted tone, the underlying motivation for the references in the Rideshare “Stimulator” trailer is decidedly more serious. Kartch explained, “The dig is because Randy took shots at Embracer in Borderlands 4.” This remark underscores the tension that has developed since Embracer Group acquired Gearbox in 2021 for a staggering .3 billion, a figure contingent upon meeting various financial milestones. Just three years later, however, Embracer found itself in a position of downsizing, ultimately selling Gearbox to Take-Two for 0 million—a mere month after parting ways with Saber Interactive for 7 million.
At the time of these transactions, everything appeared amicable; Pitchford himself endorsed the sale, labeling it “the best possible scenario and an obvious net positive arrangement for Embracer Group, for Take-Two and, of course, for Gearbox Entertainment.”
Fast forward to 2025, and Pitchford disclosed that the narrative for Borderlands 4 drew inspiration from the sale of Gearbox. Shortly thereafter, the game made its debut, featuring some rather pointed critiques of its former parent company. Among these was a location humorously dubbed Embracer’s Bluff, complete with a vending machine that metes out fatal consequences to its users, a talking AI-powered toilet, and a ruler whose lifestyle choices raised eyebrows, as he resided in a hot tub surrounded by rather unconventional decor.
While neither Gearbox nor Pitchford has explicitly confirmed that Embracer’s Bluff serves as a direct reference to Embracer Group, the implications are hard to ignore. Kartch, who has continued to express support for Embracer and its CEO Lars Wingefors since the Saber sale, remains unimpressed by the rapid shift in loyalty displayed by Pitchford and Gearbox. “It’s amazing to me how fast people forget those who went above and beyond for them,” Kartch remarked, emphasizing that he has not forgotten the past.
