Saber Interactive CCO says studio won’t change its comms strategy after AI writer controversy
Saber Interactive has found itself at the center of a controversy regarding AI’s role in game development, following comments from CEO Matthew Karch about potentially replacing human writers with artificial intelligence. The dispute centers on writer Stella Sacco, who claimed she was replaced by ChatGPT while working on the title Rideshare Simulator.
Karch’s initial statement, in which he said he “would have been happy to replace [a writer] with AI,” drew widespread public condemnation. He subsequently apologized to Sacco but defended the company’s communications, stating that “the digital ecosystem thrives on outrage and surface-level takes.”
Despite the fallout, Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits confirmed that Saber Interactive has not revised its communications strategy in response to the backlash. Willits acknowledged the studio had perhaps been overly blunt, noting “Sometimes we ‘say what we mean’ too much,” but indicated no formal policy changes would follow the incident.
Notably, Willits remains optimistic about AI’s potential in game development, though he expressed concerns about the technology’s environmental impact. He highlighted the substantial energy consumption and water usage required by the data centers that power AI systems, referencing the ongoing ecological challenges facing the industry. When discussing potential solutions, Willits mentioned the speculative possibility of server infrastructure in space as a way to mitigate environmental concerns.
The incident reflects broader tensions within the gaming industry over artificial intelligence’s role in creative work and employment, with Saber Interactive’s public handling of the situation drawing scrutiny from both players and industry observers.