Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam page for its title Rideshare Simulator to include a clear disclaimer about the use of artificial intelligence in the game's creation. The move comes after a heated debate sparked by accusations that the studio had dismissed a writer working on the project and substituted her contributions with content generated by AI tools. The full text of the new disclosure reads as follows: "This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch regarding writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber from July 2023 to July 2024.
Sacco claims she was removed from the Rideshare project midway through development and that her responsibilities were taken over by ChatGPT, alongside other undisclosed AI applications in the game's production." In a series of interviews and social‑media posts, Karch offered his side of the story. He explained that Sacco was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added, "in retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." The CEO went on to say, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," during a conversation with the podcast This Week In Videogames. He reiterated that the company had already announced the use of AI for certain aspects of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the feature set was finalized.
Karch framed the AI integration as a consumer benefit, noting, "We look at our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower‑priced title, as a plus for consumers." He suggested that leveraging AI could lower development costs and potentially allow the studio to deliver a more polished experience at a reduced price point. The controversy took a further turn when Sacco posted on the social‑media platform BlueSky over the weekend. In her message, she wrote that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She continued, "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." Karch later added a public comment on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional response to the unfolding situation. "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." The episode raises several broader questions about the role of AI in creative industries, particularly video game development.
On one hand, developers argue that AI can accelerate content creation, generate placeholder assets, and assist writers with drafting dialogue or narrative branches. On the other hand, critics worry that reliance on AI could marginalise human talent, erode the authenticity of storytelling, and lead to ethical dilemmas when credit and compensation are unclear. Industry observers note that the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or other language models is becoming increasingly common in game studios, especially for tasks like generating quest descriptions, item names, or even entire quest lines. However, the transparency of that usage remains a point of contention.
Players and journalists alike are calling for clearer labeling so they can understand which parts of a game are human‑crafted versus algorithmically produced. Saber Interactive's decision to add the disclaimer may be seen as a step toward that transparency, but the timing—following a public dispute with a former employee—has led some to view it as a reactive measure rather than a proactive policy. The company's stance that AI integration is a "plus for consumers" also invites debate. While lower prices could indeed benefit gamers, the trade‑off might be a perceived reduction in the artistic depth that comes from fully human‑written narratives.
From a legal perspective, the situation touches on employment law and intellectual property rights. If a writer is dismissed and their work is subsequently replaced by AI‑generated text, questions arise about the ownership of the original material, any contractual obligations, and whether the studio owes any compensation or attribution.
In many jurisdictions, the line between collaborative AI assistance and outright substitution is still blurry, leaving both creators and companies navigating uncertain territory. The personal dimension of the conflict cannot be overlooked. Karch's admission that he "shot first and thought second" reflects a very human reaction to criticism—impulsively defending one's reputation before fully processing the facts. His subsequent apology, though publicly posted, leaves open the question of what concrete steps will be taken to repair the professional relationship with Sacco and to ensure fair treatment of future staff.
Looking ahead, the gaming community will likely watch Saber Interactive closely to see how it implements AI in future updates of Rideshare Simulator and other titles. Will the studio develop a structured policy that outlines when and how AI is used, how contributors are credited, and what safeguards are in place to protect creative staff?
Will they engage with player feedback to balance cost savings with narrative quality? These are the issues that will shape the conversation about AI's place in interactive entertainment for years to come.
In summary, Saber Interactive has responded to a controversy involving the alleged replacement of a human writer with AI by adding an explicit disclaimer to the Steam page of Rideshare Simulator. CEO Matt Karch has publicly apologized for his earlier remarks and acknowledged his hasty reaction. The incident underscores the growing tension between technological efficiency and artistic integrity in game development, raising important questions about transparency, ethics, and the future of creative labor in an AI‑augmented industry.