Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam storefront 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 debate sparked by accusations that the company had dismissed a writer working on the project and substituted her contributions with text generated by AI tools. The new notice aims to provide transparency for players and observers who are increasingly interested in how AI is being integrated into video game production. The full text of the disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch regarding writer Stella Sacco, who worked at Saber from July 2023 to July 2024, and stated she was removed from Rideshare midway through development and replaced with ChatGPT, while alleging other then-unannounced use of AI in the game's development." By publishing this statement, Saber hopes to clarify the timeline of events and the role that AI played in the final product.
According to the CEO, the situation began when Stella Sacco, a writer hired in mid‑2023, was taken off the Rideshare project partway through its creation. In an interview, Matt Karch explained that Sacco "was replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," adding that, in hindsight, he "would have been happy to replace her with AI." This candid admission sparked a wave of criticism, as many in the industry view the replacement of a human writer with a language model as a questionable practice, especially when the change is not communicated to the development team or the public.
When pressed for details, Karch told the podcast This Week In Videogames, "Stella who? I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." He referenced Claude, an AI assistant, to underline his unfamiliarity with the former employee. He continued, "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 positioned the AI integration as a benefit for consumers, stating, "We look at our use of AI in this particular game, which will be a lower priced title, as a plus for consumers." By framing the technology as a cost‑saving measure that could lower the final price, he attempted to shift the narrative from one of controversy to one of consumer advantage. The dispute escalated when Sacco posted on the social platform BlueSky over the weekend, claiming 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." Her statement highlighted the emotional toll the incident had taken on her and underscored her insistence that the facts she presented were accurate. Karch later issued a public comment on LinkedIn, acknowledging his own emotional reaction.
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." This admission of impulsivity was an attempt to humanize his response and to suggest that his initial reaction was not a calculated corporate strategy but a momentary lapse in judgment.
The broader conversation about AI in game development has been intensifying across the industry. Developers are increasingly employing language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and others to generate dialogue, quest descriptions, and even narrative arcs.
Proponents argue that AI can accelerate production, reduce costs, and free human creators to focus on higher‑level design work. Critics, however, warn that over‑reliance on AI may dilute the creative voice, lead to homogenized storytelling, and raise ethical concerns about labor displacement. In the case of Rideshare Simulator, the game is positioned as an affordable, lower‑budget title aimed at a niche audience interested in the logistics of ride‑hailing services.
Saber Interactive's decision to lean on AI for certain writing tasks could be seen as a pragmatic choice given the project's financial constraints. Yet the lack of clear communication about the substitution of a human writer with an AI system has raised questions about transparency and respect for creative contributors. The incident also touches on the legal and contractual dimensions of AI usage. Many employment contracts do not explicitly address the replacement of human work with machine‑generated content, leaving gray areas that can lead to disputes.
Sacco's claim that she was removed mid‑development and subsequently replaced by a language model may set a precedent for future negotiations about job security and intellectual property rights in a landscape where AI tools are becoming ubiquitous. From a consumer perspective, the AI disclaimer on Steam serves as a signal that the final product may contain text that was not crafted by a human author.
Some players may appreciate the honesty, while others might worry about the quality and authenticity of in‑game dialogue. The gaming community often values narrative depth and character nuance, attributes traditionally associated with skilled writers. Whether AI can meet those expectations remains an open question.
In response to the backlash, Saber Interactive has pledged to finalize the feature set that incorporates AI and to update the Steam page accordingly. The company appears to be taking a measured approach: acknowledging past missteps, offering an apology, and committing to clearer communication moving forward. Whether this will restore trust among former employees, industry peers, and the player base is uncertain, but it demonstrates an awareness that transparency is increasingly essential in an era where AI's role in creative industries is under intense scrutiny. Overall, the episode underscores the delicate balance that studios must strike when integrating cutting‑edge technology into their workflows.
While AI offers undeniable efficiencies, the human element—particularly in storytelling—remains a cornerstone of immersive experiences. Companies like Saber Interactive will need to navigate these waters carefully, ensuring that they honor the contributions of their staff, maintain open dialogue with their audiences, and provide clear disclosures about how AI is used in their products.
The ongoing dialogue sparked by this controversy will likely influence how other developers approach AI adoption, setting standards for disclosure, ethical practice, and respect for creative talent.