It looks like Gearbox might be getting the last laugh. A location discovered in the soon to be released Borderlands 4 called “Embracer’s Bluff” seems to be a not so subtle dig at the studio’s former parent company, Embracer Group. While not officially confirmed, the details of the area are so specific and weird that it’s hard to see it as just a coincidence.
Here’s the TL;DR
- What’s happening? Borderlands 4 has a location named “Embracer’s Bluff.”
- Why is it a big deal? Embracer Group used to own Gearbox but sold it to 2K earlier this year after financial troubles.
- What’s in the location? It’s a “small, ramshackle town” with a hot tub mayor, a giant trash pile, a murderous vending machine, and an evil AI toilet.
- The verdict? It’s almost certainly a hilarious jab from Gearbox.
Welcome to Embracer’s Bluff
So, what exactly is going on in this town? According to early reports, Embracer’s Bluff is a run down little spot filled with some classic Borderlands weirdness. Players can find two quests there: one involving a vending machine that kills its customers and another centered around an evil, AI powered talking toilet.
If that wasn’t on the nose enough, the town’s “king mayor” is an NPC you can find lounging in a hot tub, and there’s a giant pile of trash that people are constantly digging through. It feels like Gearbox is basically saying, “Yeah, that whole Embracer situation was kind of a mess.”
The Backstory
For those who don’t follow the business side of gaming, Embracer Group bought Gearbox Software back in 2021 during a massive spending spree. However, the company ran into major financial issues, leading to widespread layoffs and studio closures. In early 2024, during the development of Borderlands 4, Embracer sold Gearbox to 2K (the publisher of Borderlands) for a fraction of what they paid.
Given the timing and the messy breakup, it’s no surprise that some of that frustration might have spilled over into the game in the most Borderlands way possible. While Gearbox hasn’t officially confirmed the location is a diss track in-game form, the evidence is pretty convincing.
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