Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch has apologized to former Rideshare "Stimulator" lead writer Stella Sacco following a public dispute over the game's use of artificial intelligence.
Sacco was reportedly fired over the AI dispute.
Saber CEO Apologizes to Former Game Writer
Sacco recently revealed that Karch sent her a lengthy email apologizing for the way he spoke about her in the press.
She said she appreciated the apology. However, she remains uncertain about what repairing the situation will ultimately involve.
Sacco also stood by her original account of what happened during the game's development. She maintained that she had been truthful about her experience from the beginning.
For her, Karch's apology appears to have resolved at least part of the dispute.
How the Rideshare 'Stimulator' Controversy Started
The controversy emerged following the release of the Rideshare "Stimulator" announcement trailer.
The trailer itself attracted attention because of its apparent references to Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford. However, the discussion soon moved toward Saber Interactive and its approach to game development.
Sacco, who previously served as the game's lead writer, claimed that she had been replaced by ChatGPT during development. She also questioned why the game's Steam page did not initially disclose its use of AI-generated material.
Saber initially responded with a denial. Karch later addressed Sacco's comments himself in a more confrontational statement.
His response questioned Sacco's identity and suggested that he had never met or spoken with her.
Saber Updates the Game's AI Disclosure
Saber Interactive later added an AI disclosure to the Rideshare "Stimulator" Steam page.
The updated information stated that AI had been used to create significant portions of the game's voice-over work, music, and non-campaign mission dialogue.
The disclosure added fire to the controversy.
Fans noticed that Karch's comments became almost as significant as the original disagreement over the game's development.
Stella Sacco Responds to the Apology
Karch's latest apology marks a notable change in tone from his earlier public response, according to a report from Kotaku.
Sacco accepted the apology while acknowledging that sincere apologies can be difficult to dismiss.
At the same time, she did not suggest that every issue surrounding the dispute had been resolved. She also expressed hope that she would not need to discuss the controversy again.
In other news, Player One reported that Pokemon Bank will permanently go offline next year, although dedicated Pokémon HOME support is coming to the newly ported Nintendo Switch games: "FireRed and LeafGreen."
If you're currently completing a shiny living dex for the older games, now is the time to grind for this collection journey. After February 2027, Pokemon Bank transfers to HOME won't happen anymore.
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