Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator to include a clear disclaimer about the use of artificial intelligence in the game's development. This move comes after a heated public dispute in which the company was accused of terminating a writer on the project and substituting her contributions with content generated by AI tools such as ChatGPT. The company’s leadership, headed by CEO Matt Karch, has now taken steps to address the controversy, offering both a factual statement and a personal apology to the former writer, Stella Sacco.
The AI disclaimer posted on the Steam page reads in full: the studio acknowledges that certain elements of Rideshare Simulator were created with the assistance of artificial‑intelligence systems, and that these tools were employed in line with the company’s internal policies. The notice also promises that any future updates to the game will continue to be transparent about the role of AI, especially as the developers finalize the feature set for upcoming patches and downloadable content.
By making this information publicly available, Saber Interactive hopes to reassure players that the use of AI is being managed responsibly and is intended to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity. The background to the disclaimer involves a series of statements made by Matt Karch in response to claims raised by former employee Stella Sacco. Sacco, who worked at Saber Interactive from July 2023 until July 2024, alleged that she was removed from the Rideshare Simulator project partway through its development cycle and that her responsibilities were handed over to an AI system, specifically ChatGPT.
She further suggested that the studio had employed additional, undisclosed AI tools in other aspects of the game’s creation, raising concerns about transparency and the treatment of creative staff. In an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch responded to Sacco’s accusations by stating that she had been "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later." He added, somewhat controversially, that "in retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." Karch’s remarks were met with criticism, prompting him to clarify that he had never personally met or spoken with Sacco.
"Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," he said, referencing the AI assistant Claude, which underscored the irony of the situation. Karch emphasized that the studio’s use of AI is intended to be a benefit for consumers, particularly because Rideshare Simulator is positioned as a lower‑priced title. He argued that leveraging AI can streamline production, reduce costs, and ultimately allow the company to deliver a more polished experience at an accessible price point.
However, the public backlash highlighted a broader industry debate about the ethical implications of replacing human writers with machine‑generated text, especially when it concerns narrative depth, character development, and the authenticity of player‑focused storytelling. The controversy reached a new level when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, noting that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She wrote, "I've been firm from the beginning that I was telling the truth; I think we can all now agree that it's been borne out. Matt expressed a desire to make it right with me; at this time I don't really know what that looks like for me, and I'll have to take some time to sit with it, but I do at least accept his apology." This public acknowledgment signaled a tentative step toward reconciliation, though Sacco indicated that the specifics of any restitution or future collaboration remain undefined. In a separate LinkedIn post, Karch offered a more personal reflection on his conduct.
"I unfortunately got triggered by certain later comments (for reasons I won't get into) and shot first and thought second about how to respond," he wrote. "It happens and I am a human being.
I have done what I can to rectify." By framing his reaction as an impulsive, emotionally driven response, Karch attempted to humanize his mistake while also committing to corrective actions. He did not, however, provide detailed information about any concrete measures the company would take to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident has sparked a wider conversation within the gaming community about the balance between efficiency and artistic integrity.
While AI can assist with tasks such as localization, procedural content generation, and even basic dialogue scripting, many developers and players argue that the nuanced craft of storytelling still requires a human touch. Critics worry that over‑reliance on AI could lead to homogenized narratives, reduced employment opportunities for writers, and a loss of the personal experiences that often make games resonate on an emotional level.
In response to these concerns, Saber Interactive has pledged to maintain a transparent approach moving forward. The AI disclaimer on the Steam page will be updated as the development team finalizes new features, ensuring that players are kept informed about which aspects of the game involve AI assistance. Additionally, the studio has indicated that it will review its internal policies regarding AI usage, aiming to strike a balance that respects both creative staff and the practical benefits that technology can provide.
Overall, the saga serves as a case study in how rapidly evolving AI capabilities intersect with traditional creative workflows. It underscores the importance of clear communication, ethical guidelines, and respectful treatment of personnel when integrating new tools into established production pipelines. As the industry continues to experiment with AI, companies like Saber Interactive will likely face ongoing scrutiny, making transparency and accountability essential components of any successful implementation.
For now, the updated Steam page stands as a tangible reminder that the conversation is far from over. Players interested in Rideshare Simulator can review the new disclaimer to understand how AI contributes to the game’s design, while observers of the broader industry can watch how this particular dispute influences future policies on AI usage across the gaming sector.