Saber Interactive's chief creative officer says "We've never replaced anybody with AI"
Saber Interactive’s CCO Tim Willits denies replacing any staff with AI, calling CEO Matthew Karch’s remarks sarcasm amid a public dispute over a writer’s departure.
Tim Willits, Saber Interactive’s chief creative officer, addressed recent public criticism from former lead writer Stella Sacco, who claimed she was replaced by ChatGPT mid-development on the upcoming Rideshare Stimulator. Willits dismissed the accusation as a misunderstanding, attributing CEO Matthew Karch’s response to sarcasm rather than a factual admission. He emphasized that Saber has never used AI to replace human roles in any project, including titles like Space Marine and Hellraiser.
Willits clarified that while Saber does not integrate generative AI into core production pipelines such as code, environments, or textures, the company is actively experimenting with AI tools in specific areas. For Rideshare Stimulator, AI is being tested in voice generation, localization, and the optional Free Ride mode, which features AI-generated passenger missions and dialogue, alongside human-written content.
The Steam page for Rideshare Stimulator explicitly states that the main campaign story, characters, and dialogue are created by human writers, with AI tools limited to voice generation, localization, and AI-generated music on radio stations. Willits reiterated that Saber’s use of AI is experimental and confined to non-core functions, ensuring transparency about its role in the game’s development.
Looking ahead, Willits expressed curiosity about AI’s potential future applications in gaming, comparing its current experimental phase to the early stages of other technologies. He suggested that meaningful AI integration may become more apparent in the industry within a year, with Saber planning to observe its impact in Rideshare Stimulator and other upcoming projects.