The ongoing controversy surrounding the PC job simulation game Rideshare Stimulator has taken another turn as Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch issued a direct apology to former writer Stella Sacco regarding previous comments about her employment and capabilities.
Quick Facts
- Game: Rideshare Stimulator
- Platform: PC
- Developer/Publisher: Saber Interactive
- Key Figures: CEO Matthew Karch, writer Stella Sacco, and Portal writer Chet Faliszek
The Apology and Continuing AI Stance
The dispute began when Saber released a trailer for Rideshare Stimulator, a mundane job sim where players operate as a cab driver. Writer Stella Sacco stated that she worked on the project before being fired, with her workload subsequently taken over by a large language model (LLM).
Saber officially confirmed the use of AI in development but denied that writers were replaced wholesale. However, CEO Matthew Karch previously told This Week in Video Games that he would "in retrospect have been happy to replace her with AI."
Today, Sacco shared on Bluesky that Karch sent her a private message apologizing unreservedly for his public remarks. While Sacco noted they remain on opposite sides regarding the personal use of AI in development, she accepted the apology. In a separate LinkedIn post, Karch reflected on the controversy, stating that resolving issues directly is preferable to public escalation, though he maintained his stance on deploying generative AI in games.
Escalation Involving Chet Faliszek
Despite the apology to Sacco, Karch used his LinkedIn post to criticize a 26-minute YouTube video published on August 14 by veteran writer Chet Faliszek, whose credits include Portal, Left 4 Dead, and the Half-Life Episodes.
Faliszek's video, titled "Who is the CEO of Saber Interactive?", heavily criticized Karch's public statements and behavior regarding the controversy. Karch's commentary on the video indirectly drew renewed attention to the critique, expanding the public disagreement into a fresh exchange between the studio head and the industry veteran.