Saber Interactive CEO Critiques 'Moralizing' Games

A recent comment, allegedly from Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch, has sparked discussions about the state of modern gaming. The comment, made on a YouTube video by popular streamer Asmongold, expressed dissatisfaction with what Karch described as "games that impose morals," while praising titles like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 for their more straightforward approach.

Although Warhammer’s lore is inherently political, steeped in themes like crusader imagery and a satirical portrayal of extreme xenophobia, it’s unclear if Karch was truly behind the statement at first. A similar comment from Space Marine 2's creative director, Oliver Hollis-Leick, also surfaced in the same video. However, as reported by VGC, Karch later posted on his verified LinkedIn account, saying, "whoever wrote that seems pretty sharp," which suggests that the YouTube comment was, in fact, legitimate.

What Did Karch Say?

In the comment, Karch expressed his admiration for Asmongold’s video and shared his thoughts on the game industry today. "I love your videos," he began. "When we signed the deal to make Space Marine 2, all I wanted was to create a throwback game. We had the opportunity to work on something inherently 'old school.' I struggle to grasp many of the current games we play these days—they feel too complex and demand too much investment."

Reflecting on his past work, Karch mentioned Halo, a game that became a sensation due to its simple yet addictive mechanics. He explained that this was the essence they aimed to capture with Space Marine 2. "We worked on Halo back in the day, and that game boiled down to a simple shooting loop, but it was incredibly addictive. That’s what we wanted to recreate with Space Marine 2 and Black Myth: Wukong," he said.

Karch then shifted focus to his time as chief operating officer at Embracer Group, where he saw games that, in his view, overreached with messaging and moral lessons. "I saw games there that made me want to cry with their overblown attempts at messaging or imposing morals on gamers," he added. "For us, games should be about having fun, executing some glory kills, and getting the heart rate up. That’s what gaming is about for me."

The Reality of Warhammer's Lore

While Karch’s comment calls for games that prioritize fun over moral lessons, it’s important to note that Warhammer is far from a neutral universe. The world of Warhammer 40,000 is filled with aggressive religious doctrine, militaristic zeal, and an unyielding fear of outsiders. In Space Marine 2, for instance, the characters frequently shout "heresy" as they charge into battle. The Warhammer universe is anything but subtle in its depiction of a dystopian, fascist future, where moral ambiguity is woven into the very fabric of the story.

Regardless of the lore, Karch’s vision for games like Space Marine 2 and Wukong highlights a desire for a return to simpler, more immersive experiences that prioritize fun and action over complex moral messaging. It will be interesting to see how these games resonate with players who share that sentiment.