A public feud between high-profile studio executives has spilled directly into the promotional material for Rideshare Stimulator on PC. A newly released trailer for the upcoming taxi simulation game features unmistakable nods to Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford and an infamous past incident involving a misplaced USB drive.
Quick Facts
- Game: Rideshare Stimulator
- Platform: PC
- Publisher: Saber Interactive
- Key Figures: Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch and Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford
What the Trailer References
Footage from Rideshare Stimulator includes multiple direct jabs at Gearbox Boss Randy Pitchford. In one sequence, a car appears with a Texas license plate reading "USB DRV" alongside a familiar gear icon—an explicit reference to Pitchford's past admission that he left a USB stick containing confidential company information and pornographic material at a Medieval Times restaurant.
Later in the trailer, a voiceover states, "Take a ride in my chariot, and I will take you to my castle." This line points to the historic Magic Castle in Hollywood, which Pitchford purchased in 2022 and continues to own.
Why Saber Interactive Targeted Gearbox
Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch confirmed that the references are a deliberate retaliation. Karch stated that the dig was payback for shots taken at Embracer—the previous parent company of both Gearbox and Saber, where Karch served on the board of directors—inside Borderlands 4.
That in-game jab involved an area in Borderlands 4 named "Embracer's Bluff," which featured a large trash pile, an AI-powered talking toilet, and a king mayor relaxing in a bathtub. Karch criticized Pitchford's history, remarking that without Embracer, Pitchford would be performing magic tricks at birthday parties.
Gearbox is now a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, while Saber operates as an independent company. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick previously commented on Pitchford's polarizing public persona, noting his strong passion and creative talent despite his controversial antics.