Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a formal AI usage disclaimer to the Steam store page for its upcoming title, Rideshare Simulator, after a wave of controversy erupted surrounding claims that the company had dismissed a writer working on the project in favor of content generated by artificial intelligence. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game's storefront, is intended to clarify the extent to which AI tools have been employed during development and to address the concerns raised by former staff and the broader gaming community. The full text of the newly posted disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows remarks made by Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch concerning former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by the studio from July 2023 until July 2024.
Ms. Sacco has alleged that she was removed from the Rideshare Simulator project midway through its production cycle and that her responsibilities were subsequently filled by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI applications used in the game's creation. In response, Mr.
Karch has clarified that Ms. Sacco was replaced by an individual he described as 'more talented' and that she was terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later.
He further stated that, in hindsight, he would have been comfortable substituting her work with AI-generated content." In a candid interview with the web series "This Week In Videogames," Karch elaborated on the situation, saying, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her in person. We have already announced that we are using AI for certain aspects of the game, and we will update the Steam page once the feature set is finalized." He went on to argue that the incorporation of AI into this particular title, which is positioned as a lower‑priced offering, should be viewed as a benefit for consumers, suggesting that AI can streamline development and potentially lower the final price point. The controversy intensified over the weekend when Sacco posted a message on the social network BlueSky, stating that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She added, "I have been firm from the beginning that I was telling the truth; I think we can all now agree that it has 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." Karch later issued a separate public comment on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional reaction to the unfolding events. He wrote, "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. It happens and I am a human being.
I have done what I can to rectify." The episode raises several broader questions about the evolving role of AI in video game development, the ethical considerations of replacing human creators with machine‑generated text, and the responsibilities of studios to be transparent with both their workforce and their audience. While AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models have become increasingly sophisticated, they remain fundamentally different from human writers in terms of creativity, nuance, and lived experience.
Critics argue that using AI to draft narrative content can lead to homogenized storytelling, loss of authentic voice, and potential legal issues surrounding intellectual property and attribution. Supporters, on the other hand, point out that AI can serve as a valuable assistant, handling repetitive tasks, generating placeholder dialogue, or providing rapid prototyping of ideas that human writers can later refine. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, Saber Interactive appears to be positioning AI as a cost‑saving measure for a budget‑friendly title, suggesting that the technology will help keep the game's price accessible while still delivering a polished experience.
The public reaction to the AI disclaimer has been mixed. Some community members praised Saber for finally acknowledging the use of AI and for providing a clear statement on the matter.
Others remain skeptical, questioning whether the disclaimer fully captures the extent of AI involvement and whether the company will continue to replace human talent with algorithms in future projects. From an industry perspective, this incident may serve as a bellwether for how studios navigate the delicate balance between innovation and labor practices. As AI continues to permeate creative fields, companies will likely need to develop robust policies that define when and how AI can be used, how credit is assigned, and what safeguards are in place to protect employees from abrupt displacement.
In summary, Saber Interactive's addition of an AI disclaimer to the Steam page for Rideshare Simulator reflects an attempt to address mounting scrutiny over the alleged replacement of a human writer with ChatGPT. CEO Matt Karch has publicly apologized to former writer Stella Sacco, acknowledging his impulsive reaction to the controversy and expressing a desire to make amends. The situation highlights the ongoing debate about AI's place in game development, the importance of transparency, and the need for clear ethical guidelines as the industry moves forward.