Saber Interactive has taken the step of adding a clear AI usage disclaimer to the Steam store page for its title Rideshare Simulator after a wave of controversy surrounding allegations that the company had dismissed a writer in favor of AI‑generated text. The notice, which now appears prominently on the game’s storefront, is intended to address concerns from the community and clarify the studio’s stance on artificial intelligence in the development process. The full wording of the disclaimer 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 replaced with ChatGPT, and she also alleges additional, previously undisclosed uses of AI throughout the game’s creation." In a public statement, Karch responded to Sacco’s accusations by saying that she was "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and he added a somewhat surprising remark: "In retrospect, I would have been happy to replace her with AI." The CEO’s comments quickly attracted media attention, prompting further clarification. During an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, Karch said, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her," indicating that he had not personally interacted with the former writer.
He went on to explain, "We have already said we are using AI for certain parts of the game and will update the Steam page once we have finalised the feature set." Karch framed the use of AI as a consumer benefit, especially for a title that is positioned as a lower‑priced offering. "We look at our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower priced title, as a plus for consumers," he said, suggesting that AI tools could help streamline production, reduce costs, and potentially result in a more polished final product for players. The controversy escalated when Sacco posted on 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." Karch later issued a separate public comment on LinkedIn, acknowledging his emotional reaction 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 admitted.
"It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify." The incident shines a light on a broader industry debate about the role of AI in creative fields.
As game studios increasingly experiment with language models, image generators, and procedural content tools, questions arise about authorship, credit, and the ethical treatment of human staff. Critics argue that replacing a writer with an algorithm without transparent communication undermines professional standards and can erode trust within development teams.
Supporters of AI integration, however, point out that these technologies can accelerate writing, localization, and testing phases, freeing human creators to focus on higher‑level design and storytelling. In Saber Interactive’s case, the company appears to be positioning AI as a cost‑saving measure for a budget‑friendly title, which they argue ultimately benefits gamers through lower prices and potentially faster updates. The public reaction has been mixed. Some members of the gaming community have praised the studio for being upfront about its AI usage, viewing the disclaimer as a step toward greater transparency.
Others remain skeptical, questioning whether the AI tools were truly employed as a supplemental aid or as a direct replacement for human labor. From a legal perspective, there are also implications regarding intellectual property and employment contracts.
If a writer’s contributions are partially or wholly supplanted by AI, the ownership of the resulting text may become ambiguous, especially when the AI model has been trained on existing copyrighted material. Companies must navigate these murky waters to avoid potential lawsuits and maintain compliance with labor regulations. In the wake of the controversy, Saber Interactive has indicated that it will continue to monitor the situation and update its Steam page once the final AI feature set is locked in. The studio’s leadership has expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with both the former writer and the broader community to address lingering concerns.
Ultimately, the episode serves as a case study in how rapidly evolving technology can intersect with traditional creative processes, sometimes leading to conflict when expectations are not clearly set. As AI tools become more sophisticated, it is likely that more studios will face similar dilemmas, making transparent communication and fair treatment of staff essential components of any successful integration strategy.
For now, players interested in Rideshare Simulator can view the updated Steam listing to see the explicit AI disclaimer, while the industry watches closely to see how Saber Interactive’s handling of the issue will influence future policies on AI usage in game development.