Saber Interactive's upcoming game, Rideshare Stimulator, features a license plate in its debut trailer that serves as a direct jab at Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, according to Saber CEO Matt Karch. Karch stated that the move is retaliation for what he perceived as a diss against Saber and Gearbox's former parent company, Embracer, within Borderlands 4.

The trailer for Rideshare Stimulator, which blends elements of Crazy Taxi with more grounded driving simulation, includes a brief shot of an SUV with a Texas license plate displaying "USB," a gear symbol, and "DRV." This is a clear reference to an incident in 2018 where Pitchford left a USB drive containing adult content at a Medieval Times restaurant, an event that became part of a lawsuit against Gearbox.

According to Karch, the license plate is a response to a location in Borderlands 4, "Embracer's Bluff," which he believes was a derogatory depiction of Embracer, a company that acquired both Saber and Gearbox during its expansion phase. Karch defended Embracer, a company that has faced industry criticism. "The dig is because Randy took shots at Embracer in Borderlands 4," Karch told Game File. "Without Embracer, Randy is performing magic tricks at birthday parties for a living."

Gearbox declined to comment when contacted by Kotaku. Neither Take-Two nor Gearbox have officially confirmed that the Borderlands 4 location was intended as a critique of Embracer.

Embracer Group's ambitious acquisition strategy in the late 2020s led to the purchase of numerous studios, including Saber in 2020 and Gearbox in 2021. Following a significant deal collapse in late 2023, Embracer began divesting assets, leading to the sale of both Saber and Gearbox.

Pitchford himself has been critical of Embracer's stewardship, suggesting that the narrative of Borderlands 4, which involves a powerful antagonist controlling a planet, was influenced by the studio's tenure under Embracer. Karch expressed his sentiment on the matter, stating, "It's amazing to me how fast people forget those who went above and beyond for them."