Following the backlash to Rideshare Stimulator’s use of generative AI, developer Saber Interactive has reassured Warhammer 40,000 followers that the know-how shouldn’t be in Space Marine 3 in any manner.
Followers of Space Marine 2 had expressed concern in regards to the hotly-anticipated Space Marine 3 and AI when Saber confirmed generative AI had been used to develop Rideshare Stimulator, together with speech and textual content in its Free Trip mode.
Amid the controversy, Saber CEO Matthew Karch grew to become embroiled in a public back-and-forth with former Rideshare Stimulator author Stella Sacco, who acknowledged that she had been “changed” by ChatGPT after her departure from the mission in 2023 — a declare Karch denied.
“My PR workforce is all the time terrified by even broaching the topic however I’d be comfortable to interact in an affordable dialog about how AI can and may assist form gamer experiences,” Karch informed IGN on the time. “It is not and has by no means been about efficiencies and workforce reductions. Moderately it is about how AI can enhance the sport expertise.
The incident left the Steam discussion board for Rideshare Stimulator filled with complaints, with many calling for an AI disclosure on Valve’s platform. Steam coverage requires builders to report seen and in-game AI, however not background instruments. An AI message was finally added.
The Rideshare Stimulator controversy spilled over into the Space Marine neighborhood, the place followers of Space Marine and Space Marine 2 — the latter an infinite hit for each Warhammer 40,000 proprietor Video games Workshop and Saber Interactive — let their emotions be identified.
“Space Marine 3 is f***ed,” stated redditor Curious-Analysis-559 whereas quoting Karch in (*3*) upvoted 2,800 instances.
“I used to say Video games Workshop is simply too controlling of Saber and of the Space Marine video games,” added PacoThePersian. “Possibly I used to be judging too swiftly.”
“I actually hope GW threatens him with a stick or one thing,” stated TardyTech4428. “AFAIK they’re very towards utilizing AI in 40k initiatives and I hope they hold it that manner.”
That final line is certainly true. In January, Video games Workshop banned the usage of AI in its content material manufacturing and design course of, insisting that none of its senior managers had been at the moment excited in regards to the know-how. Then, in July, Video games Workshop reiterated its anti-AI stance, and revealed it had launched investigations into current advertising and marketing gaffes that some suspected had been AI, to make sure employees had been taking part in by inner guidelines.
“As famous in our November 2025 half yr report, we aren’t being complacent on the subject, we’re rigorously monitoring what others are saying and doing,” Video games Workshop CEO Kevin Rountree stated on the time.
“We aren’t utilizing AI at Video games Workshop in our product design nor on the creation of our IP, this may shield the integrity and possession of our IP. Now we have made just a few human errors on the depiction of our merchandise in our product advertising and marketing in the yr, they had been investigated totally to make sure that AI had not been used and that every one our employees are following our inner insurance policies.”
So, throughout an interview with Saber growth chief Tim Willits at gamescom, I wished to seek out out what, precisely, was being finished with generative AI at Saber, and got here away with affirmation that it’s not getting used for Space Marine 3’s growth in any respect. Certainly, Willits promised generative AI would not be discovered in any of Saber’s licensed titles, together with Hellraiser: Revival, Stuntman: Hollywood, and Jurassic Park: Survival.
“There may be completely no generative AI in Space Marine 3 or Hellraiser or Stuntman or Turok or Jurassic Park, or Wick,” Willits stated. “However like we stated, we will experiment with it. Attempt it out in Rideshare, see if it really works. See if individuals prefer it. If they do not prefer it, we’re like, ‘All proper.’
“It is a rideshare simulator,” Willits continued, saying a few of Saber’s video games are applicable for this type of experimentation whereas others should not. “If you are going to experiment, it is a good one to experiment on. You understand what I am saying?”
Once I identified Video games Workshop’s anti-AI stance, Willits stated Saber follows the lead of every license proprietor it really works with, comparable to Lionsgate, Common, and Paramount. However, on Space Marine 3 particularly, I wished to make the AI state of affairs further clear. “We’re good,” Willits stated.
So, no generative AI in Space Marine 3, which suggests no AI-generated dialogue, no AI-generated voices, and no AI-generated paintings. That shall be excellent news for Warhammer 40,000’s very, very vocal fanbase, which retains a detailed eye on official paintings in specific for any hint of AI use.
Nonetheless, Willits sounded, in normal, in the potential of AI in growth, which he believes has but to be correctly found out. “If anybody tells you that they’ve it found out, they do not,” he insisted. “It’s going to take a pair years and issues will settle out and we’ll determine it out.”
“We have all the time been utilizing AI in some stretch of the creativeness, however we as in builders, we do not actually know what to do with it. Actually, we do not,” Willits stated. “If anybody tells you they do, they do not. After which gamers, they do not actually know what to do with it. So I do imagine that is going to occur. Anyone — I do not know who — someone will give you a sport that’s so freaking cool that it’s going to change everybody’s opinion and it will be like, ‘Oh, that is it.’ After which issues will settle.
“And we’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine it out. We haven’t any solutions. We’re guessing, to be trustworthy. However we’re performing some experimentation. We’ll see if it really works out, would not work out.”
There’s no launch window for Space Marine 3, however it’s deep in growth at Saber Interactive as we communicate. Space Marine 2, in the meantime, remains to be going sturdy with a 3rd yr of DLC assist set to kick off quickly.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.